Is a burst fracture serious?
Burst fractures are much more severe than compression fractures. The bones spread out in all directions and may damage the spinal cord. This damage can cause paralysis or injury to the nerves, which control the body’s ability to move or feel sensations.
Can you recover from a burst fracture?
The amount of recovery following a burst fracture is usually dependent on the neurologic injury. Most patients who do not have neurologic injury can make a near complete recovery with return to most of the activities of their life.
How long does it take to recover from a burst fracture?
Typical patients with similar issues usually need a year to recover, he said, but race car drivers and other athletes “who see it as imperative to get back soon” might be back to more-or-less normal activities in six months.
What happens if your spine shatters?
If the entire vertebral column breaks, it results in a burst fracture. If the compression is mild, you will experience only mild pain and minimal deformity. If the compression is severe, affecting the spinal cord or nerve roots, you will experience severe pain and a hunched forward deformity (kyphosis).
How does a burst fracture happen?
A burst fracture usually results from significant trauma that compresses the bone, such as a motor vehicle accident or a severe fall. Burst fractures account for 14% of all spinal injuries.
What is the difference between stable and unstable burst fracture?
Generally, a fracture is considered stable if only the anterior column is involved, as in the case of most wedge fractures. When the anterior and middle columns are involved, the fracture may be considered more unstable.
Can you walk with a fractured spine?
Depending on how severe your injury is, you may experience pain, difficulty walking, or be unable to move your arms or legs (paralysis). Many fractures heal with conservative treatment; however severe fractures may require surgery to realign the bones.
Are burst fractures stable?
According to this classification, all burst fractures are compression fractures and may be stable or unstable.
How serious is a fractured spine?
If the compression is severe, affecting the spinal cord or nerve roots, you will experience severe pain and a hunched forward deformity (kyphosis). Osteoporosis is the most common risk factor for fractures, as the disease causes bones to weaken.
Who is at risk for a spinal fracture?
Women, especially those older than 50, are most likely to get spine fractures. By age 80, about 40% of women have had one. Your age makes a difference, too.
What are the symptoms of a spinal fracture?
Numbness and tingling
How to treat spinal compression fractures without surgery?
Healing Spinal Fractures Without Surgery. A good physical therapy program started six to eight weeks after the fracture is often enough to treat the injury and prevent further problems. Therapies such as ice, electrical stimulation, rest or gentle stretching can relieve pain and inflammation.
