A vertebral body fracture is a break in one or more vertebral bodies. A vertebral fracture can result from an accident, but it most commonly occurs in older patients with osteoporosis, often following an everyday trauma such as a fall at home. Due to the loss of bone mass, vertebrae can collapse in on themselves without significant force being applied, and this type of fracture is also referred to as a “compression fracture” (or “sintering fracture”). When several vertebrae are affected, patients can develop a hunched back (kyphosis), and osteoporosis and fractures are frequently associated with chronic back pain.
In most cases, compression fractures are stable fractures without significant misalignment of the spine’s axis or impairment of the spinal cord or nerves. In these cases, treatment is conservative, using pain medication and the temporary wearing of a brace (support corset). If the fracture results in significant misalignment, or particularly in compression of the spinal cord or nerves, surgery and, if necessary, stabilization of the affected section of the spine must be considered.
In the case of a fracture that has not yet healed (bony union not yet formed) with pain that cannot be managed conservatively, kyphoplasty may be discussed. This is a minimally invasive procedure to restore the height of the collapsed vertebral body using a balloon, followed by stabilization of the height through the injection of cement.
In any case, an X-ray-based measurement (bone densitometry or osteodensitometry) to determine bone density is advisable, in order to initiate long-term therapy to improve bone density, for example using calcium supplements or medications that promote calcium absorption (bisphosphonates).