The consequences of a vertebral fracture of the lumbar are very serious, often irreversible for health. It is often the result of a fall from a height or accident, although there may be other reasons. In what other situations can a compression fracture of the lumbar vertebra occur with consequences? What symptoms point to it? What is the treatment? How to provide first aid to a person with a suspected fracture of 1 vertebra of the lumbar before treatment?
Effects
This phenomenon directly threatens life and entails serious, often irreversible, health effects. As the experience of doctors shows, a fracture and other injuries of the spine most often concern the cervical spine. The most serious injury in this part of the spine is damage to the spinal cord, which causes paralysis or paresis of the upper or lower extremities, as well as respiratory distress, impaired bladder control and anus sphincters.
Types and causes
The most common type of spinal fracture is a neck fracture. In this case, it comes to bending the spine forward to a degree that exceeds the physiological range of motion. This most often occurs as a result of a sharp turn of the head or forward torso, for example, for passengers of a car in an accident (if they are fastened with seat belts).
The most common causes of spinal fractures in Russia are falls from a height (especially a jump "on the head" into the water) and traffic accidents. Other causes are compression by a heavy object and bone loss. In all cases, treatment of a compression fracture of the lumbar vertebra necessarily begins immediately.
Especially dangerous are cases of bruising or fracture of the cervical spine. They arise when performing long and hard physical work. Injury to the thoracic spine, tailbone occurs as a result of a sharp impact on these parts. This type of injury rarely leads to damage to the spinal cord, so it is considered not the most life-threatening.
A compression fracture of the spine is a disorder in which compression of the vertebrae occurs, mainly in the anterior part. This type of disturbance usually occurs as a result of an external force in the parietal region of the skull (for example, in an accident) or as a result of a fall from a height on the legs or buttocks. A risk factor for a compression fracture of the spine is also a cancerous tumor, advanced age, and osteoporosis or other diseases that reduce bone quality.
A fracture of 1 vertebra of the lumbar with the consequences most often affects young men of working age.
Cases where there is no pressure on the spinal cord are considered less dangerous, because it does not come to the movement of the vertebrae. However, if the force is large, the spinal cord may be damaged. Such fractures of the spine are known as the most dangerous, occur most often in the cervical region and occur as a result of falling onto the head from a great height, jumping into shallow water (when the head hits the bottom or something solid that lies at the bottom) or in an accident .
Spinal Fracture: Symptoms
The first symptoms are pain in the back, neck or shoulders. Their strongest focus at the fracture site, it "diverges" all over the back. Symptoms appear in the event of a sudden fracture of the spine. Fracture of 1 vertebra of the lumbar before the consequences of the most dangerous kind (for example, this may occur as a result of osteoporosis) may not produce any symptoms.
Additional symptoms:
- swelling or deformity along the spine;
- numbness or lack of sensitivity below a certain level and / or in the limbs;
- sagging limbs, the inability to perform movements;
- reduced heart rate (below 50 beats per minute);
- difficulty breathing (spinal cord injury can cause muscle paralysis or diaphragm);
- urinary and fecal incontinence (impaired sphincter function);
- persistent erection of the penis (priapism);
- hot and dry skin.
First aid
The consequences of a compression fracture of the lumbar vertebra are considered serious, treatment for this reason is started immediately. It is important to be able to provide first aid in such cases. If a fracture of the spine is assumed in the victim, during first aid, the victim should be left in the position in which he was found so as not to expose him to additional injuries.
An exception is the situation when it is necessary to do artificial respiration or stop bleeding. When it is necessary to transfer the victim to another place, you should stabilize the head, holding it along the axis of the body, and then lay the patient on a solid surface.
Diagnosis and treatment
In the diagnosis, a visual examination is used - X-ray, computed tomography or MRI. Treatment depends on the type of fracture (stable, unstable). If a fracture occurs, but the spine is stabilized with ligaments and articular bags and there is no risk of spinal cord damage, surgery is not required.
The most serious injuries are a fracture of the spine in the cervical spine. In this case, the damaged sections are immobilized using a collar or orthopedic corset. Stable spinal fractures include, for example, injuries resulting from osteoporosis.
In the case of fractures, which lead to the fact that the spine becomes unstable, perform the operation. Its purpose is the fusion of damaged sections and the release of the spinal cord or nerve roots from excessive compression. The operation is urgently performed in patients with signs of partial damage to the spinal cord, this becomes noticeable in the course of research. After surgery, rehabilitation is needed. The consequences of treating a fracture of 1 vertebra of the lumbar after surgery may be beneficial.
Rehabilitation
In relation to a patient with a similar injury, the whole range of rehabilitation actions is used. In the initial period, procedures are applied whose purpose is to restore and stimulate bone growth (magnetic laser therapy) and improve blood supply and nutrition of soft tissues (pulsed currents of low frequency, massage). Cryotherapy can be used to reduce pain.
The next stage of rehabilitation, after stabilization of the bone, is kinesitherapy, that is, the implementation of exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles of the spine. It is also useful to wear special flexible plates that have a stabilizing effect.
When a fracture of the lumbar vertebrae occurs , treatment is not always immediate in all cases, since the symptoms are not always immediately visible. Spinal fracture is most often the result of mechanical trauma or abnormalities in the area of bone tissue.
The consequences of treating a fracture of 1 vertebra of the lumbar region are considered extremely serious. Depending on the extent to which the damage was, they will be different.
Can I walk?
The answer depends on the type of injury, the situation in which the fracture occurred, and the degree of damage to the spinal cord. When it comes to fracture of 1 vertebra of the lumbar spine, treatment (with consequences, whatever it may be) suggests that the patient most often can continue to walk, sometimes it is even desirable. The cells that produce bone tissue are stimulated, they contribute to the healing of the damaged area. But you need to consider that there may be violations that do not give obvious symptoms. The patient is active, and the vertebrae wear out, cracks appear.
Among fractures of the spine, cases are distinguished when it is stable and unstable. The first case is quite safe, this eliminates damage to the spinal cord. The consequences of a fracture do not threaten nearby tissues. In this case, conservative treatment is often enough, the use of funds that additionally stabilize the pillar, for example, orthopedics and rehabilitation, including physiotherapy.
In the second case, the vertebrae are so damaged that the pillar is crushed at the sites of injury, and vertebral branches threaten the integrity of the spinal cord. It comes to life-threatening conditions.
Osteoporosis
The question of the consequences of treating a fracture of the 3 vertebra of the lumbar is often asked by people with osteoporosis. An osteoporotic fracture is a type of compression fracture of the spine. Due to this disease, changes in the bone tissues lead to the fact that they become much less durable, they do not withstand the pressure and weight of their own body for a long time. Often overweight and postmenopausal women often struggle with osteoporosis. When a fracture of 3 vertebrae of the lumbar region occurs in this way, when treating the consequences, they focus on the lumbosacral region; in these places, a violation occurs in osteoporosis most often.
Damage to the neck occurs most often as a result of a blow to the head, falling from a height on the head and when jumping into the water. When a spinal fracture occurs without damaging the spinal cord, rehabilitation supports the rapid recovery of health. However, when a compression fracture occurs, treatment can be complex and time-consuming, often it begins with surgery. A fracture of the cervical spine is the most life-threatening injury due to the fact that the main centers of life, for example, the respiratory organs, are concentrated nearby. A fracture in the cervical region with damage to the spinal cord can lead to damage to the upper and lower extremities, respiratory failure, lack of control over the bladder or anus sphincters.
A broken thoracic region often occurs after falling from a height on the back, buttocks, straight legs and during a sharp sharp bend of the spine. Even a minor fracture of the thoracic spine with a shift can cause neurological disorders, so it is important that the rehabilitation after such an injury is of good quality.
Effects
The consequences of a lumbar vertebral fracture during treatment rarely interact with neurological disorders. Rehabilitation in this case is milder due to a stable state, the continuation of the normal functioning of the body.
It is important to remember that the consequences of treating a lumbar vertebral fracture for this reason do not always occur immediately after an injury. Detection of this type of disorder occurs during studies conducted against other diseases, such as lung x-rays. Typical symptoms of a fracture are edema and deformity of the spine in a place where there are disturbances, severe diffuse pain in the area of the injury, irradiation in the limbs, difficulty walking, posture changes, decreased body height, numbness, impaired sensitivity below the fracture site, sagging limbs, decreased heart rate, dry skin.
How to choose a treatment
When pathological changes occur, a fracture of the lumbar vertebra, treatment of the consequences is necessary. Often the most important thing is first aid. With any type of spinal injury, lower back pain, swelling and hematoma appear. Mainly conservative treatment is applied by applying spinal immobilization. After treatment, proper rehabilitation is important. Injuries, fractures of the vertebrae of the lumbar during treatment of the consequences are less common than injuries of the cervical.
Orthopedist
Injuries to the spine can be life threatening. If severe pain occurs even when trying to move or numbness of the limbs, it is necessary to fix the spine in the cervical spine. Then the patient should be transported to the hospital for a full examination and treatment. In the case of minor ailments, relaxation for several days and painkillers may be enough. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.
Additional Information
Injuries to the lumbar region occur as a result of a fall on the back, buttocks or lower limbs, as well as when struck in the spine. Sometimes a fracture of the spine in several episodes may indicate a pathological situation as a result of concomitant diseases, for example, osteoporosis, Paget's disease or cancer metastases.
In the case of osteoporosis, compression fractures of the 4th vertebra of the lumbar spine with consequences occur much more often. The impact for injury should not be large - it can lead to it, for example, by tilting or lifting a slightly heavier than usual object.
Such a fracture of the vertebra can also proceed slowly and gradually. In this case, the pain may be less severe, have a chronic nature or be absent altogether.
Typical, and sometimes the only, symptoms may be: decreased growth and deformation of posture (deepening kyphosis of the chest).
Osteoporosis develops typically in postmenopausal women, and less commonly in older men.
Risk factors for osteoporosis:
- advanced age;
- female;
- White race;
- low BMI;
- tobacco smoking;
- genetic predisposition;
- sex hormone deficiency: for example, early menopause, premature termination of ovarian function, late puberty;
- calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency;
- some drugs: glucocorticoids, thyroid hormones in large doses, heparin, anticonvulsants are used for a long time.
In addition, some diseases affect the appearance of osteoporosis.