A
pproximately
700,000 vertebral, or spinal bone, fractures occur each year usually in women
over the age of 60. Researchers estimate that at least 25 percent of women and
a somewhat smaller percentage of men over the age of 50 will suffer one or more
spinal fractures. Younger people also suffer these fractures, particularly
those whose bones have become fragile due to the long-term use of steroids or
other drugs to treat a variety of diseases such as lupus, asthma and rheumatoid
arthritis. Of particular concern are spinal fractures caused by a progressive
weakening of the bone -- a condition called osteoporosis. The pain and loss of
movement that often accompany bone fractures of the spine are perhaps the most
feared and debilitating side effects of osteoporosis. For many people with
osteoporosis, a spinal fracture means severely limited activity, constant pain
and a serious reduction in the quality of their lives.
Fractures of the vertebrae have traditionally been much more difficult to
manage than broken bones in the hip, wrist or elsewhere. These broken bones can
often be successfully treated with surgery. But because surgery on the spine is
extremely difficult and risky, it has typically not been used to treat
vertebral fractures associated with osteoporosis except as a last resort. Until
recently, reduced activity and pain medications, many of which cause
problematic side effects, or invasive (and often unsuccessful) back surgery
were virtually the only treatments available. Today, however, there is a safe,
non-surgical interventional radiology treatment called vertebroplasty
(ver-TEE-bro-plasty) that has been shown to be extremely effective in reducing
or eliminating the pain caused by spinal fractures. Vertebroplasty is a pain
treatment for vertebral compression fractures that fail to respond to
conventional medical therapy, such as minimal or no pain relief with analgesics
or narcotic doses that are intolerable. Vertebroplasty, a non-surgical
treatment performed using imaging guidance by interventional radiologists,
stabilizes the collapsed vertebra with the injection of medical-grade bone
cement into the spine. This improves pain, and can prevent further collapse of
the vertebra, thereby preventing the height loss and spine curvature commonly
seen as a result of osteoporosis. Vertebroplasty dramatically improves back
pain within hours of the procedure, provides long-term pain relief and has a
low complication rate as demonstrated in multiple studies. If the vertebra
isn't shored up, it can heal in a compressed or flattened wedge shape. Once
this occurs, the compression fracture cannot be treated effectively. It is very
important for someone with persistent spinal pain lasting more than three
months to consult an interventional radiologist, and people who require
constant pain relief with narcotics should seek help immediately.
If the vertebra isn't shored up, it can heal in a compressed or
flattened wedge shape. Once this occurs, the compression fracture cannot be
treated effectively. It is very important for someone with persistent spinal
pain lasting more than three months to consult an interventional radiologist,
and people who require constant pain relief with narcotics should seek help
immediately.
COsteoporosis is called a "silent disease," because bone loss occurs without
symptoms. People may not know they have osteoporosis until their bones become
so weak that a simple strain, twist of the body, bump or fall causes a bone
fracture. Fractures may occur in the hip, wrist, ribs or elsewhere, but the
most common site of fracture is in the vertebrae, the bones that make up the
spinal column.
There are 10 million people in the U.S. who suffer from
osteoporosis and another 28 million with thinning bones that put them at risk
for fractures. 80 percent of those affected are women. Also at risk are those
whose bones have become fragile due to the long-term use of steroids to treat a
variety of diseases such as lupus, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Significant
risk has been reported in all ethnic groups, and while osteoporosis is most
common in old age, it can occur at any time.
Among individuals with osteoporosis, there will be 700,000
painful spinal fractures each year. These so-called "compression" fractures are
caused when the weakened vertebrae of the spine collapse usually in the middle
(thoracic) or lower (lumbar) spine.A collapsed vertebra may initially
be felt as severe back pain. When more than one vertebra collapses, loss of
height or spinal deformities such as kyphosis ("widow s hump") or stooped
posture may result. In some cases, the fracture stabilizes on its own, and the
pain goes away. But for many, the pain persists because the crushed bone
continues to move and break.
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The Spinal Column.
most fractures occur in the:
Middle, or thoracic spine.
Consists of 12 vertebrae, each carrying a set of ribs. or in the:
Lower or lumbar spine.
Consists of the five largest and strongest vertebrae.
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Fractured vertebra.