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