Understanding Vertebral
Compression Fractures
When the vertebrae (bones of the spine) are afflicted with osteoporosis (a loss of calcium that leads to bone weakness), the vertebra can crack and fracture. These fractures can cause the bone in the spine to decrease in height. This condition is most commonly referred to as vertebral compression fractures.
When the bone weakens, these fractures can occur from simple everyday activities such as opening a window or lifting a bag of groceries. Yet hundreds of thousands of older Americans each year do not even realize that they have vertebral compression fractures. However, for some people, fractures can cause severe pain. Fractures need to be aggressively treated only if they cause debilitating pain for a patient.
The fracture often occurs at the front of the vertebra, causing the bone to collapse forward, leaving the back of the vertebra intact. This can lead to a progressive deformity with the spine rotating forward, leaving the patient with a kyphotic ("hunchback") deformity.
Osteoporosis, a condition that weakens the spinal bones, is the main cause of vertebral fractures. In fact, vertebral compression fractures are often the first sign that someone has osteoporosis. Because patients with osteoporosis have low bone mass, their vertebra are more susceptible to fracture. This can occur anywhere in the spine, but happens most often in the upper back (the thoracic spine).
Vertebral fractures are a leading cause of acute back pain, deformity, chronic pain, height loss, and inability to exercise in the elderly. Patients that have had a compression fracture are susceptible to having more fractures. The best way to prevent further compression fractures leading to more instability and deformity is to medically treat the underlying osteoporosis.
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