Most compression fractures happen in the front of the vertebra. When you get enough of them, the front part of the bone can collapse.MenuMedicalReferenceSlideshows&ImagesNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersFindanEndocrinologistMedicationsWebMDRxSavingsCardOverviewSymptoms&TypesRisks&PreventionDiagnosis&TestsTreatment&CareComplications&RelatedDiseasesLiving&ManagingBoneDensityTestsDrugInteractionCheckerHealthyAgingLivingHealthyMenopauseOsteopeniaWomen’sHealthOsteoporosisGuideMenuMedicallyReviewedbyMelindaRatini, DO, MSonJuly30,2021InthisArticleHowFracturesHappenWho’satRisk?WhatCanYouDotoPreventIt?It’seasytothinkbackpainisjustpartofgettingolder.Butbecareful.Ifyou’renearingage60,itmaybeasignthatyouhavetinycracksinthebonescalledvertebraethatformyourspine.Whenthesesmallhairlinefracturesaddup,theycaneventuallycauseavertebratocollapse,whichiscalledspinalcompressionfracture.HowFracturesHappenSoft,weakenedbonesareattheheartoftheproblem.Compressionfracturesareusuallycausedbythebone-thinningconditionosteoporosis,especiallyifyouareawomanoverage50whohasbeenthroughmenopause.Whenbonesarebrittle,yourvertebraearen’tstrongenoughtosupportyourspineineverydayactivities.Whenyoubendtoliftanobject,missastep,orsliponacarpet,youcanputyourspinalbonesatriskoffracture.Evencoughingorsneezingcancausecompressionfracturesifyouhavesevereosteoporosis.Afteranumberofsmallcompressionfractures,yourbodybeginstoshowtheeffects.Thestrengthandshapeofthespinecanchange.Youloseheightbecauseyourspineisshorter.Mostcompressionfractureshappeninthefrontofthevertebra.Whenyougetenoughofthem,thefrontpartofthebonecancollapse.Thebackofthevertebraismadeofharderbone,soitstaysintact.Thatcreatesawedge-shapedvertebra,whichcanleadtothestoopedpostureyoumightknowasadowager'shump.Doctorscallitkyphosis.Who’satRisk?Twogroupsofpeopleareathighestriskforspinalcompressionfractures:PeoplewithosteoporosisPeoplewithcancerthathasspreadtotheirbonesIfyouhavebeendiagnosedwithcertainkindsofcancer--includingmultiplemyelomaandlym

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) occur when the bony block or vertebral body in the spine collapses, which can lead to severe pain, deformity and loss ...SkiptoMainContentThesitenavigationutilizesarrow,enter,escape,andspacebarkeycommands.Leftandrightarrowsmoveacrosstoplevellinksandexpand/closemenusinsublevels.UpandDownarrowswillopenmainlevelmenusandtogglethroughsubtierlinks.Enterandspaceopenmenusandescapeclosesthemaswell.Tabwillmoveontothenextpartofthesiteratherthangothroughmenuitems.MENUMembershipJointheAANSMemberBenefitsMemberDirectoryMyAANSInternationalActivitiesAANS/CNSSectionsAANSCareerCenterbackground-image-awomanlookingatascreenAnnualMeeting2022AANSAnnualScientificMeeting-SubmitAbstracts-BookHousing-ExhibitingMeetingDates&Locationsbackground-image-awomanlookingatascreenEducationNeuroU–OnlineCMEFrontRowSeriesLiveCoursesSNAPAdvancedPractitionerCoursesSubspecialtyCMEMeetingsCalendarTheRhotonCollectionTheNeurosurgicalAtlasJointProvidershipbackground-image-awomanlookingatascreenPublicationsTheJournalofNeurosurgeryAANS360MobileAppAANSNeurosurgeonAANSUpdatesNeurosurgeryBlogAANSBookstore2021AANSGuidetoCodingEducationCatalogbackground-image-awomanlookingatascreenPatientsFindaBoard-certifiedNeurosurgeonNeurosurgicalConditionsandTreatmentsNeurosurgeryAwarenessMonthPatientEducationVideosbackground-image-awomanlookingatascreenAdvocacyAbouttheWashingtonOfficeAdvocacyNewsDCPressRoomNeurosurgeryBlogNeurosurgeryPACPositionStatementsWashingtonE-newsletterbackground-image-awomanlookingatascreenTraineesResidents/FellowsMedicalStudents-NeurosurgeryMatchYoungNeurosurgeonsCommitteeVolunteerCorpsGrantsandFellowshipsResidencyDirectoryAcademicFellowshipDirectorybackground-image-awomanlookingatascreenAANSPatientsNeurosurgicalConditionsandTreatmentsVertebralCompressionFracturesVertebralCompressionFracturesIncidenceandPrevalenceVertebralcompressionfractures(VCFs)occurwhenthebonyblockorvertebralbodyinthespinecollapses,whichcanleadtoseverepain,deformityandlossofheight.Thesefracturesm

Spinal compression fractures occur as a result of injury, commonly fall onto the buttock or pressure from normal activities, to the weakened ...×ArticlesLogInCasesSignUpCoursesQuizDonateAbout×MenuSearchADVERTISEMENT:Radiopaediaisfreethankstooursupportersandadvertisers.BecomeaGoldSupporterandseenoads.ArticlesCasesCoursesLogInLoginSignup{"url":"/signup-modal-props.json?lang=us\u0026email="}ArticlesCasesCoursesQuizAboutRecentEditsGoad-freeSearchSpinalcompressionfractureLastrevisedbyDrHenryKnipe◉◈on13Sep2021EditarticleViewrevisionhistoryReportproblemwithArticleCitation,DOIandarticledataCitation:Bashir,U.,Knipe,H.Spinalcompressionfracture.Referencearticle,Radiopaedia.org.(accessedon25Oct2021)https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-19197DOI:https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-19197Permalink:https://radiopaedia.org/articles/19197rID:19197Articlecreated:15Aug2012byDrUsmanBashirRevisions:28timesby11users-seefullrevisionhistorySystems:Trauma,Musculoskeletal,SpineSections:-Tags:fracture,vertebraSynonyms:OsteoporoticspinalcompressionfractureOsteoporoticcompressionfractureOsteoporoticvertebralcollapseOsteoporoticvertebralfractureOsteoporoticspinefracturesOsteoporoticvertebralfracturesOsteoporoticspinefractureURLofArticleSpinalcompressionfractures occurasaresultofinjury, commonlyfallontothebuttockorpressurefromnormalactivities,totheweakenedvertebraeduetoosteoporosis.Onthispage:Article:EpidemiologyClinicalpresentationPathologyRadiographicfeaturesTreatmentandprognosisRelatedarticlesReferencesImages:CasesandfiguresImagingdifferentialdiagnosisEpidemiologyTheyhaveareportedincidenceof1.2per1000person-yearsafter85yearsofageintheUnitedStates.However,theyarelargelyunreportedandareprobablymorecommonradiographically(presentupto14%ofwomenolderthan60yearsinonestudy1). ClinicalpresentationVertebralfracturespresentwithpainandlossofmobility.PathologyCompressionfracturescanresultfromosteoporosis,traumaorrepresentapathologicalfracturesecondarytoanotherprocess(e.g.infection,tumor)ref.Commondescriptorsinclude6:wedgec

The type of fracture in the spine that is typically caused by osteoporosis is generally referred to as a compression fracture. A compression fracture is ...SkiptomaincontentYouarehereConditionsOsteoporosisWhenBackPainIsaSpineCompressionFracture  share  pinit  NewslettersByScottBoden,MD | PeerReviewedThetypeoffractureinthespinethatistypicallycausedbyosteoporosisisgenerallyreferredtoasacompressionfracture.Acompressionfractureisusuallydefinedasavertebralboneinthespinethathasdecreasedatleast15to20%inheightduetofracture.SpinalCompressionFractureVideoSaveWatch:SpinalCompressionFractureVideoThesecompressionfracturescanoccurinvertebraeanywhereinthespine,buttheytendtooccurmostcommonlyintheupperback(thoracicspine),particularlyinthelowervertebraeofthatsectionofthespine(e.g.T10,T11,T12).TheyrarelyoccurabovetheT7levelofthespine.Theyoftenoccurintheupperlumbarsegmentsaswell,suchasL1.Thisarticleprovidesin-depthinformationonvertebralcompressionfractures,includingsymptoms,diagnosis,andtreatments.TypesofFractureAspinalfractureduetoosteoporosis(weakbones)iscommonlyreferredtoasacompressionfracture,butcanalsobecalledavertebralfracture,osteoporoticfracture,orwedgefracture.Theterm"wedgefracture"isusedbecausethefractureusuallyoccursinthefrontofthevertebra,collapsingtheboneinthefrontofthespineandleavingthebackofthesameboneunchanged.Thisprocessresultsinawedge-shapedvertebra.Awedgecompressionfractureisgenerallyamechanicallystablefracturepattern.advertisementWhilewedgefracturesarethemostcommontypeofcompressionfracture,thereareothertypesaswell,suchas:Crushfracture.Iftheentirebonebreaks,ratherthanjustthefrontofthevertebra,itmaybecalledacrushfracture.Burstfracture.Thistypeoffractureinvolvessomelossoftheheightinboththefrontandbackwallsofthevertebralbody(ratherthanjustthefrontofthevertebra).Makingthisdistinctionisimportantbecauseburstfracturescanbeunstableandresultinprogressivedeformityorneurologiccompromise.InThisArticle:WhenBackPainIsaSpineCompressionFractureVertebralFractureSymptomsOsteoporosis:T

A compression fracture is a collapse of a vertebra. It may be due to trauma or due to a weakening of the vertebra (compare with burst fracture).VertebralcompressionfractureFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopediaJumptonavigationJumptosearchMedicalconditionMedicalconditionCompressionfractureExampleofvertebralcompressionfracture.SpecialtyOrthopedicAcompressionfractureisacollapseofavertebra.Itmaybeduetotraumaorduetoaweakeningofthevertebra(comparewithburstfracture).Thisweakeningisseeninpatientswithosteoporosisorosteogenesisimperfecta,lyticlesionsfrommetastaticorprimarytumors,[1]orinfection.[2]Inhealthypatients,itismostoftenseeninindividualssufferingextremeverticalshocks,suchasejectingfromanejectionseat.Seeninlateralviewsinplainx-rayfilms,compressionfracturesofthespinecharacteristicallyappearaswedgedeformities,withgreaterlossofheightanteriorlythanposteriorlyandintactpediclesintheanteroposteriorview.[3]Contents1Signsandsymptoms2Diagnosis3Treatment3.1Conservativetreatment3.2Surgical4References5Furtherreading6ExternallinksSignsandsymptoms[edit]Acutefractureswillcauseseverebackpain.Compressionfractureswhichdevelopgradually,suchasinosteoporosis,mayinitiallynotcauseanysymptoms,butwilllateroftenleadtobackpainandlossofheight.[citationneeded]Diagnosis[edit]Compressionfracturesareusuallydiagnosedonspinalradiographs,whereawedge-shapedvertebramaybevisibleortheremaybelossofheightofthevertebra.Inaddition,bonedensitymeasurementmaybeperformedtoevaluateforosteoporosis.Whenatumorissuspectedastheunderlyingcause,orthefracturewascausedbyseveretrauma,CTorMRIscansmaybeperformed.[citationneeded]Compressionfractureofthefourthlumbarvertebrapostfallingfromaheight.X-rayofthelumbarspinewithacompressionfractureofthethirdlumbarvertebra.CompressionfractureofT12Treatment[edit]Apotentialcomplicationofavertebralcompressionfractureisavascularnecrosisofthevertebralbody,whichiscalledKümmel'sdisease,andmayappearwiththeintravertebralvacuumcleftsign(atwhitearrowinimage).[4]Conservativetreatment[edit]Backbraceforsuppor

Most compression fractures -- tiny cracks in the bones of your spine, or vertebra -- in women at this age happen because of osteoporosis, ...MenuMedicalReferenceSlideshows&ImagesNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersFindanEndocrinologistMedicationsWebMDRxSavingsCardOverviewSymptoms&TypesRisks&PreventionDiagnosis&TestsTreatment&CareComplications&RelatedDiseasesLiving&ManagingBoneDensityTestsDrugInteractionCheckerHealthyAgingLivingHealthyMenopauseOsteopeniaWomen’sHealthOsteoporosisGuideMenuMedicallyReviewedbyMelindaRatini, DO, MSonJuly30,2021InthisArticleSymptomsDifferentSignsofSpinalCompressionFracturesSignsofMultipleSpinalCompressionFracturesDiagnosingSpinalCompressionFracturesThemainsymptomyou’llnoticewithaspinalcompressionfractureisbackpain.Itmaystartgraduallyandgetworseovertimeorcomeonsuddenlyandsharply.Butregardlessofhowithappens,it’simportanttoletyourdoctorknowaboutit,especiallyifyou’reawomanwhoisnearoroverage50.Mostcompressionfractures--tinycracksinthebonesofyourspine,orvertebra--inwomenatthisagehappenbecauseofosteoporosis,aconditiondefinedbybonesthatareweakandbrittle.Treatmentofacompressionfracturecanhelploweryourriskformorefractures.SymptomsAlongwithbackpain,spinalcompressionfracturesalsocancause:PainthatgetsworsewhenyoustandorwalkbutwithsomereliefwhenyouliedownTroublebendingortwistingyourbodyLossofheightAcurved,stoopedshapetoyourspineThepaintypicallyhappenswithaslightbackstrainduringaneverydayactivitylike:LiftingabagofgroceriesBendingtothefloortopicksomethingupSlippingonarugormakingamisstepLiftingasuitcaseoutofthetrunkofacarLiftingthecornerofamattresswhenchangingbedlinensDifferentSignsofSpinalCompressionFracturesFormanypeople,aspinalcompressionfracturewillhurtlessastheboneheals.Thatcantakeupto2or3months.Otherpeoplewillstillhavepainafterthefracturehashealed.Somepeoplefeelalmostnosymptomsfromspinalcompressionfractures.Thecracksmayhappensograduallythatthepainisrelativelymildorunnoticeable.Forothers,thepainmayturnintoachronicbackacheintheinjureda

Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures are very common fragility fractures of the spine that affect up to 50% of people over 80 years old.SpineSpineBasic&ClinicalScienceAnatomyHigh-YieldTopicsSpinalCordAnatomySpineBiomechanicsCervicalSpineAnatomyThoracicSpineAnatomyLumbarSpineAnatomyIntervertebralDiscEvaluationNeck&UpperExtremitySpineExamLowerExtremitySpine&NeuroExamINTRAOPERATIVEBloodLossManagementinSpineSurgerySpinalCordMonitoringSpineTraumaSpinalCordInjuryCervicalSpineTraumaEvaluationPediatricCervicalTraumaOverviewVertebralArteryInjurySpinalCordInjuriesIncompleteSpinalCordInjuriesPediatricSpinalCordInjuryPseudosubluxationoftheCervicalSpineUpperCervicalTraumaOccipitocervicalInstabilityOccipitalCondyleFXAtlasFX&TransverseLigamentInjuriesAtlantoaxialInstabilityOdontoidFractureTraumaticSpondylolisthesisofAxis(Hangman'sFracture)HaloOrthosisImmobilizationLowerCervicalTraumaCervicalFacetDislocations&FXCervicalLateralMassFractureSeparationSubaxialCervicalVertebralBodyFXExtensionTeardropFractureCervicalSpineClay-shovelerFracture(CervicalSpinousProcessFX)ClosedCervicalTractionThoracic&LumbarTraumaThoracolumbarBurstFXChanceFracture(flexion-distractioninjury)ThoracolumbarFracture-DislocationOsteoporoticVertebralCompressionFractureSpineDegenerativeCervicalConditionsCervicalSpondylosisCervicalMyelopathyCervicalRadiculopathyRheumatoidCervicalSpondylitisOssificationPosteriorLongitudinalLigamentCervicalAdjacentSegmentDiseaseCervicalDiscArthroplastyThoracic&LumbarConditionsLowBackPain-IntroductionDiscogenicBackPainThoracicDiscHerniationLumbarDiscHerniationCaudaEquinaSyndromeLumbarSpinalStenosisSynovialFacetCystInstability&DeformityDegenerativeSpondylolisthesisAdultIsthmicSpondylolisthesisAdultSpinalDeformitySacralConditionsSacralInsufficiencyFractureSacroiliacJointDysfunctionSacroiliitisSpineInfections,Tumors,&SystemicConditionsSpineInfectionsAdultPyogenicVertebralOsteomyelitisSpinalEpiduralAbscessSpinalTuberculosisDiskSpaceInfection-PediatricSpineSurgicalSiteInfectionsSyste

COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptionsWeareopenforsafein-personcare.Learnmore:MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformationLateston COVID-19vaccination bysite:ArizonapatientvaccinationupdatesArizona,FloridapatientvaccinationupdatesFlorida,RochesterpatientvaccinationupdatesRochesterandMayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdatesMCHSSkiptositenavigationSkiptoContentThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion.SearchRequestanAppointmentFindaDoctorFindaJobGiveNowLogintoPatientAccountEnglishEspañolPortuguêsالعربية中文TwitterFacebookPinterestYouTubeEnglishEspañolPortuguêsالعربية中文SearchSearchAllMayoClinicTopicsCareatMayoClinicOverviewAppointmentsLocationsPatient&VisitorGuideInternationalServicesMedicalDepartments&CentersDoctors&MedicalStaffPatientOnlineServicesBilling&InsuranceClinicalTrialsInternationalBusinessCollaborationsAboutMayoClinicContactUsHealthInformationOverviewDiseases&ConditionsA-ZSymptomsA-ZTests&ProceduresA-ZDrugs&SupplementsA-ZHealthBooksHealthyLivingProgramMayoClinicHealthLetterMayoClinicVoiceAppsHealthyLifestyleFeaturedconditionsBraintumor,breastcancer,coloncancer,congenitalheartdisease,heartarrhythmia.Seemoreconditions.ForMedicalProfessionalsOverviewProviderRelationsCareLinkOnlineReferralsContinuingMedicalEducationMayoClinicLaboratoriesAskMayoExpertVideoCenterJournalsandPublicationsResearchOverviewResearchFacultyLaboratoriesCoreFacilitiesCenters&ProgramsDepartments&DivisionsClinicalTrialsInstitutionalReviewBoardPostdoctoralFellowshipsTrainingGrantProgramsCollegeofMedicineandScienceOverviewMayoClinicGraduateSchoolofBiomedicalSciencesMayoClinicAlixSchoolofMedicineMayoClinicSchoolofContinuousProfessionalDevelopmentMayoClinicSchoolofGraduateMedicalEducationMayoClinicSchoolofHealthSciencesGivingtoMayoClinicOverviewGiveNowPhilanthropyinActionFrequentlyAskedQuestionsContactUstoGiveCompressionfracturesPrintSectionsProductsandservicesThebonesthatmakeupyo

SkiptocontentCedars-SinaiHealthLibraryCompressionFractureShareEmailPrintConditions&TreatmentsSymptomCheckerVideoLibraryPreventionGuidelinesHealthCalculatorsRiskAssessmentsCompressionFractureNotwhatyou'relookingfor?StartNewSearchABOUTCAUSESDIAGNOSISTREATMENTNEXTSTEPSWhatisacompressionfracture?Acompressionfractureisatypeoffractureorbreakinyourvertebrae.Thevertebraearethebonesinyourbackthatarestackedontopofeachothertomakeyourspine.Yourspinesupportsyourweight,allowsyoutomove,andprotectsyourspinalcordandthenervesthatgofromittotherestofyourbody.Compressionfracturescancausethevertebraetocollapse,makingthemshorterinheight.Thiscollapsecanalsocausepiecesofbonetopressonthespinalcordandnerves,decreasingtheamountofbloodandoxygenthatgetstothespinalcord.Whatcausesacompressionfracture?Osteoporosisisthemostcommoncauseofcompressionfractures.Osteoporosisisatypeofbonelossthatcausesbonestobreakeasily.Othercausesincludeinjuriestothespine(suchasfromcaraccidentsandsportsinjuries)andtumorsinthespine.Thetumormaystartinthevertebrae.Butmorecommonlyitspreadstherefromanotherpartofthebodytothebone.Whoisatriskforacompressionfracture?Osteoporosisisthemostcommoncauseofcompressionfractures.Preventingandtreatingosteoporosisisthebestwaytodecreaseyourriskforcompressionfractures.Mostcompressionfractureslinkedtoosteoporosisarefoundinwomen,especiallyaftermenopause.Butoldermendeveloposteoporosisandcompressionfractures,too.Peoplewhohavehadonecompressionfracturerelatedtoosteoporosisareatahigherthanaverageriskofhavinganotherone.Whatarethesymptomsofacompressionfracture?Whencompressionfracturesfirststartdeveloping,theymaynotcausesymptoms.AhealthcareprovidermaydiscoverthemonanX-raythatyouhaddoneforotherreasons.Latersymptomsmayinclude:Slowlyworseningbackpain—lyingonyourbackmayrelievethepainandstandingmaymakeitworseAdecreaseinyourheightLimitedmovementinyourspine(unabletobendortwist)Astooped-overposture,calledkyphosis.Often,thefrontsideofthevertebralosesheight,buttherearsidedoesn't.Asaresult,thesefracturescancauseyo