Lumbar Spine Fracture - An Introduction
A lumbar spine fracture is a devastating injury and two reasons are responsible for this devastation. Firstly, the pain in bones due to fractures sometimes does not resolve. And secondly, posture is highly affected by fractures. Often, the condition is so critical that the fracture results in thoracic kyphosis, due to which it becomes difficult for the patient even to stand.
Fractures of the lumbar spine can occur due to various reasons. If the patient is young, an injury can cause lumbar spine fracture. Sometimes it happens because of some car accident. A fall or a jump from a height can also result in a lumbar spine fracture. Patients, who are older, can have lumbar spine fracture due to a non-traumatic or external trauma such as a fall. Another highly common reason for lumbar spine fracture is osteoporosis.
Traumatic fractures: The Denis system can categorize traumatic fractures. The most common fracture that occurs is a vertebral wedge fracture. Another type includes flexion and distraction forces. These fractures usually occur due to vehicular accidents. Then, there is the burst fracture which occurs due to high energy loads on the spine.
Non-traumatic fractures: Because of osteoporosis, bones increase their softness and even a minor fall can lead to major fractures. The most common factor that causes a non-traumatic fracture is metastatis. Primary cancers that occur due to hematologic dissemination can make the spine prone to fractures. Cancers of the prostate, the kidneys, the breasts, the lungs come under such cancers. Spinal infections start in a lumbar disk and progress to bones, which results in osteomyelitis. Severe pain is the major symptom of a non-traumatic lumbar spine fracture, which has progressed to osteomyletis. Almost thirty million cases of osteoporosis are on record in the US. Approximately 50% of the cases are fractures that are vertebral. Out of these 1/3rd are lumbar, 1/3rd are thoracolumbar, and 1/3rd are thoracic in origin. Approximately 75% of women older than 65 years of age, who have scoliosis, have a chance of one wedge-shaped osteoporotic spinal fracture. The death rate in such cases is nearly zero, but morbidity can be noticeable. In senior citizens and in aged people, who suffer from an acute osteoporotic fracture and which is accompanied by pain and who are on bedrest, are prone to more medical complications. However, younger patients can even suffer from neurological loss of strength in lower extremities and disturbed bowel and bladder systems. Osteoporosis usually occurs in post-menopausal women. A type of osteoporosis occurs in women aged between 51 to 65 years of age and which leads to wrist and vertebral fractures. Another type of osteoporosis, which is known as senile type, occurs in women and men aged above 75 years. The treatment of a lumbar spine fracture is usually categorized under occupational therapy, physical therapy, recreational therapy, injections, medication, and surgery.
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