Despite the fact that the vertebrae are a solid structure of the human body and able to withstand significant loads, it is possible that under the influence of external forces it is possible to violate the integrity of the vertebrae, in other words, a fracture. Basically, fractures of the bone structure occur due to a fall from a great height, during automobile accidents or because of diving into the water. In cases where the height of the vertebral body has decreased, then this is a compression fracture of the spine. The treatment of such fractures takes time, and patience while the vertebrae grow together.
But not only a fall or accident can be the causes of this diagnosis. Half of women over 80 have the disease osteoporosis, the cause of which is a decrease in the density of tissue in the bone structure. With such a disease, only exposure to a small force is enough to form a compression fracture of the spine. The treatment in this case is more complex, because bone fusion with osteoporosis is much slower and requires a huge amount of strong medication.
Another important cause of compression fracture of the spine are malignant tumors of other organs. This case is the most dangerous, since tumor metastases are capable of destroying the vertebral body rather quickly, thereby allowing minimal external force to be brought to a fracture.
When a significant external force is applied, leading to a fracture, at this very moment the patient experiences a bright pain in the back, which can lead to shock. In many cases, pain radiates to the legs, damaging the nerve structures, thereby causing numbness and weakness in the upper and lower extremities.
Any damage to the spine, whether it be a compression fracture or other disorders, require an immediate visit to the doctor or his urgent call to the house. After interviewing the patient, the doctor is obliged to conduct a preliminary examination of the patient, palpating the painful areas, assessing muscle strength and sensitivity in the limbs, and also checking the symptoms of tension of the nerve roots. If a preliminary diagnosis was made - a compression fracture of the spine, the treatment of which requires consistency and accuracy, then the first thing that will need to be done is an X-ray of the spine, which allows you to display the bones of the vertebrae on the display, and later on the paper, using x-rays. Cases of computed tomography for a more thorough examination of the fracture are not excluded.
The traditional treatment of bone fractures includes the use of various declinators, special corset belts, as well as taking analgesics and observing the protective regime. Taking analgesic drugs, the patient reduces the severity of pain, but does not contribute to the healing of the fracture. The consolidation of the fracture in normal terms requires, first of all, the observance of the protective regime, in other words, during the period of bone fusion, it is very important to exclude any force loads that can cause further deformation of the broken vertebrae.
In addition, it is strictly forbidden to bend and rotate the whole body. If compression of the nerve structures has occurred, then a compression fracture of the spine, the treatment of which takes a long period of time, will most likely require surgical intervention in order to prevent injury to the roots of the nerve endings. This disease is very painful, so fewer movements will allow you to quickly deal with a fracture.