A bone injury in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine, often after significant trauma. Cancer and osteoporosis can weaken bone and cause fractures from minor injuries.
Fractures are classified by which bone is injured, the direction of the fracture line, whether the column is unstable, and whether the spinal cord or nerve roots are involved.
Minor fractures with a stable spinal column and no injury to the spinal cord or nerve roots can often be managed with an external brace.
Unstable fractures or those with damage to the spinal cord require urgent surgery. Osteoporotic compression fractures may be treated with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.
What a spinal fracture is
Spinal fractures are bony injuries that can occur in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. These fractures often occur as a result of significant trauma such as a car accident, a fall down stairs, or a fall from standing.
Some conditions, such as cancer and osteoporosis, can weaken your bones and predispose you to sustaining fractures, even from a minor injury.
How fractures are classified
Fractures are classified based on which bone is injured, the orientation of the fracture line, whether the spinal column has been destabilized, and whether there is an injury to the spinal cord or nerve roots.
That classification is what guides treatment: a stable fracture without neurological injury is a very different problem from an unstable fracture with cord involvement.
Treatment options
The treatment of spinal fractures varies greatly depending on a number of factors. Minor fractures in which the spinal column remains stable and there is no injury to the spinal cord or nerve roots can often be managed with an external brace.
Other fractures which are unstable, or that result in damage to the spinal cord, require urgent surgery. Your surgeon will discuss your options with you and help to design a solution that fits your needs.
Osteoporotic compression fractures
One special type of spinal fracture is an osteoporotic compression fracture. These fractures, which result from extremely low bone density, may be treated with a procedure called a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, in which cement is injected into the bone to augment its strength and stability.
This procedure is minimally invasive, done as an outpatient, and can greatly reduce your pain and get you back on your feet.
When to seek care quickly
New back pain after a fall or accident, or new pain in the setting of known osteoporosis or cancer, deserves evaluation. Weakness, numbness, or a change in bowel or bladder control needs urgent attention — call 404-446-4424 or seek emergency care.
This guide is general education and does not replace a personal evaluation. Symptoms, imaging, treatment options, and recovery vary by person.