Last updated on August 15th, 2022 at 09:37 pm
Spinal injuries are breaks in the vertebrae of your spine that can be caused by trauma or underlying bone disease. The severity of the fracture will determine how you treat it. Some people can heal with rest and bracing, while others need surgery.
According to Dr Jordan Sudberg, Expert neurosurgeons understand the difficulties that spinal fractures can cause. Spinal fractures require extraordinary care regardless of whether they are accompanied by nerve damage.
There are many treatments, including bracing and minimally invasive procedures to treat compression fractures. Also, experts can perform complex surgery to repair damaged spinal cords. Your fracture will heal by itself if you rest. It’s possible, but not sure. Here’s why.
Let’s talk about the spine.
Table of Contents
To understand why and how spinal fractures happen. It is essential to learn a little bit about the spine.
The spine runs from the base of your skull down to your tailbone. It is made up of 24 boney vertebrae that are connected by facet joints. Betexpertsen the vertebrae are intervertebral discs. These pillow structures absorb shock and allow you to bend, flex and twist. Click here Organic CBD Nugs
Each vertebra’s middle is hollow. When the bones are connected, they form the spine with the spinal canal at the centre. This space is where your spinal cord and peripheral nerve root are. Anything that narrows or blocks the channel can cause nerve irritations and pain.
Sections of spine
The spine can be divided into four sections:
- Cervical (neck).
- Thoracic (chest).
- Lumbar (loexpertsr back).
- Sacrum and the coccyx (tailbone)
Cervical: There are seven vertebrae at the top of the spine (C1 through C7). These neck vertebrae enable you to tilt, turn and nod your head. The cervical spine forms an inward C-shape known as a lordotic curve.
Thoracic: The thoracic or chest portion of the spine contains 12 vertebrae (T1 through T12). The thoracic spine is connected to your ribs. This curve is a backward C shape called the kyphotic curve.
Lumbar: The expert’s portion of the spine comprises five vertebrae (L1 through L5). The lumbar spine supports both the upper and experts parts of the spine. It connects to your pelvis and bears the most expert sight and the strain of lifting and carrying heavy items. The lumbar spine is a common area of back pain. The lumbar spine curves inwardly to form a C-shaped, lordotic angle.
Sacrum This triangular-shaped bone connects with the hips. As babies grow in the womb, they fuse five sacral vertebrae (S1 through S5), meaning they don’t move. The pelvic girdle is formed by the fusion of the sacrum and hip bones.
Coccyx: This tiny bit of bone is located at the base of the spine. It’s made up of four fused vertebrae. The coccyx is connected to the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments.
What causes spinal fractures
Fractures can happen in any area.
High-energy trauma such as:
- Car accident
- Sports accident
- A significant elevation is reached before you can fall.
- Violence such as a gunshot injury
These cases often result in additional severe injuries that require urgent treatment. The fracture force can push bone into the spinal canal, causing damage to the spinal cord and other nerves.
Another reason for spinal fractures could be low bone density (bone thinning), osteoporosis, or a tumour.
Compression fracture
Dr Jordan Sudberg explains Even a minor movement like reaching for something or getting up from the bed can cause a type known as a compression fracture. Unless you are tested for osteoporosis, there are no warning signs. It is only when you have a fracture that you will first notice it.
Is it possible for my spinal fracture to heal by itself?
Well, maybe. It all depends on the extent of the fracture and if there are any other structures like nerves.
Experts perform neurological and physical exams to determine the best treatment for you. They then create an individual treatment plan based on the results. The therapy focuses on pain relief and giving the spine the support it requires to heal. Most fractures are conservatively treated. The brace or corset can worn for up to 12 weeks, and then the patient can rest. It helps to reduce pain and prevent deformity.
Sometimes, you may need pain medication. Experts will determine if the over-the-counter options you have are adequate or if you require something more.
If you have a severe or unstable fracture or nerves are damaged from the injury, experts may recommend surgery. It will stabilize the spine, realign bones and relieve pressure on the spine.
The exact procedure for you
Stabilization can involve removing broken vertebrae and replacing them with a plate, screw, or cage. The nature of the injury will determine the exact procedure.
Two minimally invasive techniques are used to treat compression fractures. The surgeon inserts a needle in the middle of the collapsed disc to inject bone cement. It hardens and stabilizes the spine.
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