Spinal Compression Fractures

Compression fractures of the spine generally occur from too much pressure on the vertebral body. This usually results from a combination of bending forward and downward pressure on the spine.

A common cause of compression fractures is osteoporosis. This disease thins the bones, often to the point that they are too weak to bear normal pressure. The thinning bones can collapse during normal activity, leading to a spinal compression fracture.

Spinal compression fractures are the most common type of osteoporotic fractures. These vertebral fractures can permanently alter the shape and strength of the spine. The fractures usually heal on their own and the pain goes away. However, sometimes the pain can persist if the crushed bone fails to heal adequately.

In severe cases of osteoporosis, actions as simple as bending forward can be enough to cause a "crush fracture," or spinal compression fracture. This type of vertebral fracture causes loss of height and a humped back, especially in elderly women.

This disorder (called kyphosis or a "dowager's hump") is an exaggeration of your spine that causes the shoulders to slump forward and the top of your back to look enlarged and humped.

Trauma to the spinal vertebrae can also lead to minor or severe fractures. Such trauma could come from a fall, a forceful jump, a car accident, or any event that stresses the spine past its breaking point.

Another cause of vertebral fractures is a metastatic disease. Metastasis is a term that refers to the spread of cancer cells into other areas of the body. The bones of the spine are a common place for many types of cancers to spread.

A compression fracture of the spine that appears for little or no reason may be the first indication that an unrecognized cancer has spread to the spine. The cancer causes destruction of part of the vertebra, weakening the bone until it collapses. This is a sign that something going on internally is harming the bones.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are two procedures performed at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center that treat spinal compression fractures.

They work by injecting medical-grade bone cement directly into the fractured vertebra. This cement hardens quickly and acts like an internal cast. In some cases a balloon is inserted into the fracture (kyphoplasty) to expand the space before the cement is added.

Franklin G. Moser, MD, director of Clinical and Interventional Neuroradiology, and Marcel Maya, MD, co-chair of the S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center, head our team of imaging physicians, nurses and technologists who specialize in treating spinal compression fractures.

Vertebroplasty is an image-guided, minimally invasive, nonsurgical therapy used to strengthen a broken vertebra (spinal bone) that has been weakened by osteoporosis or, cancer. It is usually successful at alleviating the pain caused by a compression fracture.

Often performed on an outpatient basis, vertebroplasty is accomplished by injecting an orthopedic cement mixture through a needle into the fractured bone.

Vertebroplasty is performed under local anesthesia and light sedation, while you lie on your stomach. A small incision is then made in the skin near the spine, and a needle is inserted (Step 1). Biocompatible bone cement will be injected through the needle and into the vertebral body (Step 2a). The needle is removed and the cement is allowed to harden (Step 2b). The small opening is covered with a bandage.

This procedure can take from one to two hours (depending on how many vertebrae are treated). You will be required to remain for observation for one to two hours. Typically, patients are then released to go home and resume normal activities within 24-48 hours.

In most cases, pain caused by vertebral compression fractures will be gone or diminished within 48 hours. You might experience some discomfort or bruising where the needle was inserted.

The S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center provides a full range of advanced imaging, both radiology and cardiology, as well as interventional radiology and interventional tumor (oncology) treatments to the greater Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Encino, Mid-Cities, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, Studio City, Toluca Lake and West Hollywood.