SPINE FRACTURES
If you suffer from severe back pain, or believe you might have a spine fracture, please Schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists as soon as possible.
What is a Spinal Fracture?
Spinal fracture occurs when one or more vertebrae break or crack due to excessive force or weakened bone. High-impact events such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, or sports injuries commonly cause these fractures, while conditions such as Osteoporosis can allow even minor falls or routine movements to cause damage. Fractures may affect the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine and can range from small compression fractures to unstable injuries that threaten spinal alignment.
People with a spinal fracture often experience sudden back or neck pain, limited movement, muscle spasms, and tenderness over the injured area. More severe fractures may place pressure on the spinal cord or nearby nerves, leading to numbness, weakness, tingling, or loss of bowel or bladder control. Prompt medical evaluation helps determine fracture severity, protect the spinal cord, and guide treatment that supports proper healing, restores stability, and reduces the risk of long-term complications.
Types of Spinal Fractures
A “compression” fracture will almost always occur in the Lumbar Spine, or lower back, and causes pain that gradually increases the more patients move, most often when changing sitting or sleeping positions. Spinal Fractures typically fall into 3 different categories:
- Wedge Fractures: The most common form of Spinal Fracture. Wedge Fractures occur when the back of the vertebra remains intact while the front of the vertebra collapses. While wedge fractures tend to cause less pain, they may still eventually lead to deformities such as a hunchback.
- Crush Fractures: A crush fracture occurs when both the front and the back of the vertebrae cracks and collapses. These fractures tend to cause more pain than a wedge fracture, and often adds more pressure onto the spinal cord.
- Burst Fracture: Burst Fractures include the most severe form of injury to the spine. Similar to Crush Fractures, where both sides of the vertebrae collapse, but with pieces of the shattered bone pushing outwards into the tissue that surrounds the spinal cord. Burst Fractures cause the most severe pain and patients may experience loss of sensation, and lose control of the legs, bladder or bowels. Brain and spine specialists urge patients to seek immediate medical attention if they suffer these symptoms.
Treatments for Spinal Fractures
Conservative Treatments for Spinal Fractures:
Specialists will first examine the patient to determine the severity of the injury. The physician may order X Rays, MRI scans or CT scans to pinpoint the exact area of the damage. If a Neurosurgeon determines that the spinal fracture can heal with conservative treatment, they may prescribe some pain medications and order the patient to rest for 6 – 8 weeks to heal. If physicians determine Osteoporosis as greatly contributing to the injury, they may also start treatment for loss of bone density.
Surgical Treatment for Spinal Fractures:
If Spine specialists determine a Spinal Fracture requires surgical intervention, they may suggest undergoing a Kyphoplasty, or Vertebroplasty. Both arthroplastic and non-invasive, these surgeries require inserting a needle into the fractured vertebra and injecting the fracture with a medical-grade bone-cement. This cement fills the cracks of the bone, strengthening the vertebra once again.
Recovery From Spinal Fracture Surgery
Recovery after surgery for a Spinal fracture begins with hospital care that focuses on pain control, wound protection, and early supervised movement. Healthcare teams encourage short walks and gentle activity to support circulation and reduce stiffness while protecting the healing spine with a brace when needed. Patients follow strict limits on bending, lifting, and twisting while the surgical site and bone repair stabilize. After discharge, physical therapy rebuilds strength, restores flexibility, and improves posture and balance through gradual, guided exercises. Regular follow-up visits and imaging allow surgeons to track healing progress and adjust recovery plans, while consistent adherence to rehabilitation instructions supports safer healing, improved mobility, and return to daily activities over time.
If you would like to speak to a DFW-Based Spine Specialist, give us a call at 817-697-4038, or contact us over the web. Tele-medicine appointments are also available.
