Synonyms
Vertebral fracture, vertebral body fracture, fracture of the vertebral body, compression fracture, compression fracture, flexion fracture, burst fracture, dislocation fracture, spinous process fracture, transverse process fracture, fracture of the vertebral body, fracture of the vertebra
Definition vertebral fracture
A vertebral fracture is a fracture of a vertebra of the spine. In most cases, it is the result of an accident (traumatic vertebral fracture) or osteoporosis-related vertebral fracture. A vertebral fracture can affect the spinous process, the vertebral body or the vertebral arch. In the case of an unstable vertebral fracture, the spinal cord may be endangered by displaced bone fragments.
Causes of a vertebral fracture
The following causes can lead to a vertebral fracture: In the case of direct force application, the vertebral body is directly injured by the force acting from outside. Example: Fall on the stairs with direct impact of a vertebral body on the stair step. In the case of indirect violence, the external force is transmitted and the vertebral body is injured indirectly.
Example: Dive into shallow water with compression of the cervical spine. Pathological fractures of the spinal column are characterized by the fact that a minor injury without significant force development is sufficient to fracture a previously damaged vertebral body. Example: Vertebral fractures without an adequate accident event (spontaneous fractures) in osteoporosis.
- Direct exposure to violence (fall, impact, shock, impact, etc. )
- Indirect exposure to violence (axial compression, overextension, over-flexing, rotational diffraction, etc. )
- Pathological fractures (osteoporosis, tumors etc. )
Symptoms of a vertebral fracture
Depending on the location of the fracture, there may be pain over the injured vertebral body and the adjacent spinal column sections. The intensity of the pain can vary greatly. If the vertebral body is only slightly compressed, a fracture can easily be overlooked due to minor discomfort.
Larger injuries, on the other hand, can be accompanied by significant pain symptoms. In the case of an injury to the spinal cord (severing, contusio spinalis), the typical symptoms of paraplegia can occur:
- Loss of voluntary motor activity and reflex behavior below the injury
- Loss of surface and depth sensitivity
- Dysfunctions of bladder, rectum, potency
- Changes in skin blood circulation, trophic and sweat secretion
- Transverse process
- Outgoing nerve
- Vertebral body
- Spinous process
- Spinal cord
Collapse of the top and base plate (sinter fracture) in osteoporosis with development of a short-distance kyphosis (hunchback). If several vertebral bodies break in this way, the so-called “widow’s hump” is formed, which is characterized by a very pronounced hunchback.
All articles in this series:
