Spinal fractures

Column

The spinal column consists of a series of vertebrae (made of bone) held together by discs (made of soft collagen) and stabilized by a complex arrangement of ligaments, muscles, and joints. The cervical spine (neck) houses the nerves that make up the spinal cord.

When the spine experiences enough traumatic force, its bony elements can break (known as a fracture). Vertebrae that have become weak due to osteoporosis can break even as a result of a low level of trauma. Spinal fractures can cause pain, instability, and in severe cases, paralysis. Whether or not the spine remains stable after such a fracture arose from the severity of the fracture and the integrity of the stabilizing structures of the spine. Unstable spines may be associated with an increased risk of neurological (nerve) damage. An unstable cervical spine may be associated with an increased risk of spinal cord damage and can lead to weakness and dysfunction of the arms and legs.
 

• Spinal compression fractures

A traumatic fracture of the spine can lead to compression of one or more vertebrae and injury to the spinal cord or nerves. Surgical options include decompression surgery.
 

• Anterior thoracic vertebral body replacement surgery

An anterior thoracic vertebral body replacement involves the removal and replacement of a damaged vertebra and stabilizes the spine. The surgeon accesses the damaged spine from the front (anterior) of the body. This procedure can reduce painful compression of the spinal cord and nerves, which can result from trauma in which a vertebra is severely fractured, or when pressure created by a tumor that has spread to the front of the spine fractures a vertebra. 
 

•  Lumbar vertebral body replacement surgery

Spinal fractures involving vertebrae in the lumbar spine (lower back) can cause pressure on spinal nerves, resulting in pain. Severe fractures are unstable and often require surgery to remove and replace the damaged vertebra (or vertebrae) and stabilize the spine. A lumbar vertebral body replacement involves replacing the affected vertebrae with a small metal cage filled with bone graft material, which is then screwed into the adjacent healthy vertebrae.