Fractures of the spine are usually caused by trauma but may also be due to deficient bone structure (osteoporosis, infection, tumor?. The most common deformity resulting from a spine fracture is a kyphosis. This can lead to severe pain and may also involve neurologic symptoms (tingling, numbness, weakness, paralysis?. It is crucial to rapidly determine the cause of fractured vertebra. in order to properly direct treatment. A thorough evaluation is thus necessary and may include tests such as X-rays, MRI, and a CT scan.

Proper treatment is guided by the type of fracture, the degree of kyphosis and any associated neurologic symptoms. In mild cases when no neurologic injury or compression is present, treatment may involve bracing, medication and activity limitations. A common cause of kyphosis and fracture of the spine in the elderly is osteoporosis. New medical treatment programs can reduce the chance of a fracture occurring by treating the osteoporosis. Once a fracture has occurred though, the treatment most commonly involves bracing and activity restriction to help the spine heal. If the pain is severe and healing is slow, new techniques involving cement injection into the spine have been developed. Once such method, called " kyphoplasty"? can markedly reduce the pain of a fracture in properly selected patients.

For more severe injuries or those that involve any neurologic symptoms, non-operative care may not be appropriate and the treatment may involve surgery. In such cases the goals include a correction of the kyphosis, stabilization of the spine and a freeing up of any compressed neurologic structures. Untreated, or inadequately treated fractures may develop gradual and progressive deformity and severe kyphosis. Surgical treatment for these rigid and severe deformities is challenging and must involve an experienced team to optimize chances of a good outcome.

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