The vertebrae of the spine are structurally strong bones, but it is possible to break them. When a vertebra breaks, it is called a vertebral compression fracture, and the body of the vertebral bone collapses in on itself. While fractures can occur anywhere along the spinal column, vertebral compression fractures are most common in the lower thoracic region of the spine, most often in the vertebrae labeled T11 and T12, and the first lumbar vertebra in the lower back (L1). The location of these vertebrae makes them more vulnerable to pressure that could cause a compression fracture. Vertebral compression fractures can lead to a type of abnormal curving of the spine called kyphosis, or a hunched back.
The most common reason that a vertebral fracture will occur is that the bones are weakened due to advanced osteoporosis. The disease osteoporosis causes bones in the body to become frail and brittle. In people with osteoporosis, the bones are broken down on a cellular level more than they are built back up, so a low bone mineral density results. People with osteoporosis are much more prone to fractures, and in the advanced stages of the disease, trauma from a fall or even pressure on the vertebrae from standing or bending the spine can cause vertebral compression fractures. Osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures are most common in older women, but vertebral fractures can also occur in people of any age with normal bone mineral density as a result of trauma to the spine. This type of fracture may occur in a fall injury or a car accident, for example. Cancer patients with metastatic tumors in the spine due to the cancer spreading may also experience vertebral compression fractures due to weakening of the vertebral bones.
Vertebral compression fractures usually show up on X-ray images or other types of imaging scans. The vertebral compression fractures are usually treated with pain medications, back bracing and avoidance of activities that can exacerbate the injury, like heavy lifting. Braces are typically worn for a few months to prevent further damage and allow the broken vertebra to heal properly; the healing process usually takes about three months. Surgery is not often used to treat vertebral compression fractures, but it may be necessary in some cases that involve pinched spinal nerves or bone fragments putting pressure on the spinal cord.
