Spinal Compression Fractures: Women Over 50
Spinal compression fractures are often caused by bone-thinning osteoporosis, especially in post-menopausal woman over age 50.
“What you would see on an x-ray is just a decrease in the height of the bone, you wouldn't actually see necessarily a crack or a fracture line at all,” says Dr. Andrew Gross, who is a pain management specialist on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System.
About two-thirds of spinal compression fractures are never diagnosed because many patients think their back pain is simply a normal part of aging.
“They really crunch down, they hurt because of the swelling and the longer you let them go the more they can crunch down and the more height you can lose. So it’s, it’s imperative to fix them quickly,” says Dr. Gross.
A fracture will typically heal on it’s own in a matter of months, but not necessarily in the proper position. Patients may be left with a deformed spine that gives them chronic pain. But a minimally-invasive treatment called Kyphoplasty is expanding their options. The treatment uses a balloon to fix the fracture from the inside.
“The procedure itself is really geared toward expanding the vertebrae as much as possible with a balloon and then putting the cement in to stabilize it. What you want to do is fill in the vacuum where the weakened bone is,” says Dr. Gross.
With the spine stabilized, many patients report feeling better almost immediately.
“Some people even feel better when you get them off the table and put them back in the recovery area, that’s how quick,” says Dr. Gross.
Spinal compression fractures from osteoporosis are actually quite common, occurring in approximately 700,000 people in the US each year.
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