A person’s back is able to withstand a fairly large load, however, in the presence of such traumatic factors as a fall from a height, a strong blow, weight lifting or a decrease in bone density, serious mechanical damage can result, as a result of which a compression fracture of the spine often occurs. In some cases, this pathological condition can provoke tumor metastases. In adults and children, such an injury is characterized by flattening or squeezing of the vertebra, as well as a decrease in its height. There are several types of vertebral disorders: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, coccygeal and sacral. Half of the elderly who suffer from osteoporosis are diagnosed with compression fracture of the lumbar spine , causing a decrease in growth, which leads to the formation of a hump.
The main symptoms and consequences of injury
In most cases, with a compression fracture, severe pain occurs in the affected area, which can give off to the limbs. If nerve structures are involved in the pathological process, a person may feel numbness of a certain area and severe weakness. It is unacceptable to self-medicate in a compression fracture, otherwise irreversible changes in the vertebrae are possible, which will entail severe deformation, spinal cord injuries, destruction of the intervertebral disc and compression of the nerve roots. As a result of this, post-traumatic radiculitis, osteochondrosis and even paralysis can occur.
First aid
In a compression fracture , an ambulance crew should be called in. If there is a need to move the injured person, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules of transportation in order to prevent possible displacement of fragments and not to harm even more. First of all, you need to ensure that the patient does not move, and even more so does not try to sit or stand up. It can be transported or transferred only on a solid and even surface, making sure that all vertebral sections are located in the same plane. To do this, it is recommended to turn the neck and head at the same time as the body. If you are not confident in your actions, it is better to leave the victim in a starting position until the arrival of specialists.
Diagnosis and treatment of compression fracture
If you suspect a problem with the spine, you must determine the main cause of certain symptoms. To do this, X-ray or MRI. To examine the condition of the spinal cord in a specific area, myelography is performed, and a neurological examination is prescribed to check the functions of the nerve roots. The treatment of the disease is to strictly limit motor activity. The patient should not lift weights and even minimally load the back. Older people are advised to have a long bed rest, as their healing of bone tissue is much slower. A compression fracture of the lumbar region requires the use of special orthopedic corsets for rigid fixation of the spinal column. For complications of a neurological nature, surgical treatment is indicated, which involves the removal of fragments that compress the spinal cord and nerve endings.