According to the National Library of Medicine, vertebral compression fractures are the most prevalent form of osteoporotic fracture, affecting over 700,000 people in the United States.
Broken bones happen for many reasons, from traumatic injuries to osteoporosis. Unfortunately, spinal compression fractures are highly prevalent among those with osteoporosis.
Many people aren’t aware they have a spinal compression fracture — only one-third get a clinical diagnosis. Spinal fractures require special care to heal properly, which is where the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico can help.
At our Roswell, New Mexico office, Dr. Omar Osmani provides fracture care and bone health services for vertebral compression fractures. If conservative measures don't work, he also offers kyphoplasty surgery to repair a bothersome compression fracture.
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak, brittle, and prone to fractures. As you age, the bones naturally break down faster than they rebuild, but osteoporosis leads to decreased bone density.
It's a "silent" disease because most people don't know they have it until they break a bone. You can break any bone with osteoporosis, but spinal compression fractures are the most prevalent injury with the disease.
As the bones weaken from the disease, it's more likely that the vertebra collapses from the weakened bone. The result is a loss of height, discomfort, and spinal instability.
The vertebrae sometimes collapse on their own or with a minor injury like a fall. The longer osteoporosis goes without treatment, the more likely you are to have a compression fracture.
The good news with spinal compression fractures is that they can heal with conservative measures. After diagnosing the fracture, we recommend rest, physical therapy, and bracing. We suggest over-the-counter pain medications to alleviate discomfort.
With the proper care, a compression fracture typically heals in 6-12 weeks. The bones constantly break down and repair, although osteoporosis slows the process.
We also treat the root cause of the fracture: osteoporosis. Medications and weight-bearing exercises help to fight osteoporosis-related fractures. It's also essential to get enough calcium and vitamin D.
Nonsurgical treatments don't always work for severe spinal compression fractures. If conservative treatments fail or you have an unstable fracture, we recommend surgical intervention.
Kyphoplasty is the procedure we utilize to treat severe compression fractures. It's a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes surgical balloons to restore height to the damaged vertebra.
Utilizing specialized X-rays, we make small punctures in the skin near the compression fracture. We then insert the deflated balloon into the fracture space and inflate it to restore the vertebra's height.
Once we're happy with the vertebral height, we insert bone cement into the space to stabilize the vertebra and decrease pain. The procedure is highly successful and allows the spine to function correctly after a fracture.
Afterward, Dr. Osmani discusses osteoporosis treatments and fracture prevention techniques to ward off further compression fractures.
If you’re living with osteoporosis, call our Roswell, New Mexico, office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Osmani or request an appointment on our website.
