Vertebral fracture in osteoporosis

General

Vertebral fractures, which due to a osteoporosis will arise as Sintering fractures designated. This is a sagging of the leading edge of the vertebral body, due to minimal mechanical force applied to very soft and previously damaged bone. Since this form of the fraction is only used when already broken bone can arise, it belongs to the group of pathological fractures.

root cause

Vertebral body fractures, which are due to an low bone mass are usually less dramatic than traumatic vertebral body fractures. If a vertebral body is broken as a result of an accident, its strength often leads to breakdown Burst or Fragmentation of the bone. Accordingly, significantly greater forces are required to break a young healthy bone. Osteoporosis and thus soft bones, however, only lead to a sagging of the vertebral body. However, the osteoporotic fracture can already through smallest mechanical forces to be triggered. In some cases, blowing your nose vigorously can damage the vertebral body. Ultimately, the loss of bone substance primarily causes one Loss of altitude. It imagines Wedge vertebraewhose trailing edge remains intact. For this reason, fragments usually do not get into the spinal canal. This is the likelihood of neurological symptoms, such as one Paraplegic syndrome, low. In many cases, these wedge-shaped vertebrae do not appear individually, but several times in a row. These wedges cause the spine to curve forward (Hyperkyphosis), and the height decreases. Sintering fractures are always referred to as pathological fractures, since a healthy bone must not give way in this way.

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Symptoms

On the one hand, the loss of height results in an unequal proportion of trunk to leg length. The curvature of the thoracic spine leads to the bulging of the abdomen. In slim patients, skin folds appear on the flanks due to the decreasing trunk length. These run from back-top to front-bottom. The entire appearance is colloquially referred to as the "widow's hump". The physical changes are sometimes accompanied by severe pain and significant restrictions on movement. In many cases, affected patients consider this to be a normal sign of old age. The pain in combination with the change in the external appearance and the restricted mobility represent the final state of an osteoporotic vertebral body fracture and is often seen in practice.

Read more on the topic: What kind of pain occurs with osteoporosis?

therapy

In any case, in the event of such a fracture event, an attempt should always be made to mobilize the patient again as soon as possible. With the help of sufficient Pain medication and an orthopedic support device adapted to the patient should go through physical therapy the Mobilization to be kept. By lying down for a long time without moving, it quickly comes to Lime loss from the bone. This becomes even softer and another break can quickly follow.
One operational option is the Kyphoplasty. This is a minor surgical procedure. Under X-ray control the corresponding vertebral body is sought out and through a small incision over the working channel Bone cement injected into the vertebral body. This becomes hard and partially straightens the vertebral body again. If this procedure is applicable, a quick improvement of the complaints can be expected. In order to prevent vertebral body fractures caused by osteoporosis, medication must be used over the long term. Serve here above all Bisphosphonates as the therapy of choice. Also a balanced one Calcium budget and Move are important to avoid further breakage and to strengthen the bone substance.

X-ray of the lumbar spine

On the left the original X-ray image, on the right the image with the vertebral body traced in red.

X-ray image showing a fracture of the vertebral body in osteoporosis

On the left the original X-ray with the vertebral fracture, on the right the image with the vertebral body traced in red.

Summary

The osteoporotic vertebral body hernia is one frequent Disease of the aging person. It is a break due to the slightest mechanical impact at very soft bone. This leads to a collapse of the leading edge of the vertebral body, causing a wedge-shaped vertebral body arises. Since the trailing edge is usually not affected, neurological failures are not to be expected. Next Pain it comes to one Loss of altitude and with it one decreasing height of the patient. In addition, the mobility usually restricted. The therapy consists primarily in sufficient Pain medication, adapting an orthopedic Support apparatus and earlier Mobilization to avoid another bone fracture. To treat osteoporosis yourself is a lifetime medical therapy necessary.