A fracture of the spine is life-threatening and has serious, often irreversible he alth effects. A fracture of the spine is most often the result of a fall from a height or a traffic accident, although other causes are also mentioned. In what other situations can a spine fracture? What symptoms indicate them? What is the treatment? How to provide first aid to a person with a suspected spine fracture?

Spine fractureis directly life threatening and has serious, often irreversible he alth effects. According to the experience of doctors, fracture, as well as other spine injuries, most often affect the cervical region. The most serious injury to this part of the spine is damage to the spinal cord, which causes paralysis or paresis of the upper or lower limbs, as well as respiratory disorders, impaired control of the urinary bladder and anal sphincters.

Spine fractures - types and causes

1)Spine flexion fracture

The most common type of spine fracture is the flexion fracture. In this case, the spine (most often in the cervical) bends forward to an extent that exceeds the physiological range of motion. Thespine flexion fracturemost often occurs as a result of a sharp bending of the head or torso forward at stabilized lower body parts, e.g. in the case of car passengers during a traffic accident (if they are fastened with seat belts).

The most common causes of spine fractures in Poland are falls from a height (especially head jumps into the water) and road accidents. Other causes include crushing with a heavy object and loss of bone mass.

A special case of an injury involving the cervical spine is the so-called "Clay digger fracture", i.e. fatigue detachment of the spinous process (or processes) of the lower cervical vertebrae, or the first thoracic vertebrae by muscle attachments. This fracture occurs when performing long and hard physical work, such as when digging clay - hence the name.

2)Spine extension injury

Spine extension injury is an excessive extension of the spine as a result of an injury from the front of the spine. Speci althe case of fracture in this mechanism is the so-called hangman's fracture, consisting of a symmetrical fracture of the epiphyses of the circular vertebrae and displacement of the vertebral body, which owes its name to the similarity to the changes observed in hangmen, but rarely causes spinal cord damage.

3)Compression (crush) fracture of the spine

Compression (crush) fractures of the spine are fractures in the course of which the vertebral bodies are crushed, mainly in the front part. These types of fractures usually arise as a result of an external force in the parietal area of ​​the skull (e.g. during a traffic accident) or as a result of a fall from height onto the feet or buttocks. A risk factor for a compression fracture of the spine is also a neoplastic tumor, advanced age and osteoporosis or other diseases that reduce the quality of bone tissue.

Spine fractures most often affect young men of working age.

Compression fractures of the spine are considered the best prognosis because there is no displacement of the vertebrae and, as a rule, there is no pressure on the spinal cord. However, if the force is high, the vertebral bodies can fragment or crush and damage the spinal cord. Such fracture of the spine is called "explosive", most often occurs in the cervical region and results from a fall over the head from a great height, jumping into shallow water (when the head hits the bottom or something hard on the bottom) or in a motorcycle accident.

Spine fracture - symptoms

  • pain in the back, neck or shoulder. It is strongest at the fracture site and "spreads" over the entire back

Symptoms appear in the event of a sudden fracture of the spine. Slow spine fractures (e.g. osteoporosis fractures) may be asymptomatic.

  • swelling or deformity in the spine
  • numbness or numbness below a certain level in the torso and / or in the limbs
  • limb laxity, unable to move
  • slow heart rate (less than 50 beats per minute)
  • difficulty breathing (spinal cord injury may paralyze the intercostal muscles or the diaphragm)
  • urination and defecation (impaired sphincter function)
  • persistent penile erection (priapism)
  • hot and dry skin
Important

Spine fracture - first aid

If a spine fracture is suspected in the case of the injured person, during first aid, leave the injured in the position inthat he was found, so as not to expose him to additional trauma. The exception is when it is necessary to perform artificial respiration or stop a hemorrhage. When it is necessary to move the injured to another place, stabilize the head, keeping it along the axis of the body, and then place the patient on a hard surface.

Fracture of the spine - diagnosis

In the diagnosis of spine fractures, imaging tests are used - X-ray of the spine, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.

Spine fracture - treatment

Treatment depends on the type of fracture (stable, unstable). If there is a fracture of the vertebral body or processes, but the spine is stabilized by ligaments and joint capsules, and there is no risk of spinal cord injury, surgery is not necessary.

The most serious consequences are the fracture of the cervical spine.

In this case, the spine is immobilized with a collar or an orthopedic corset. Stable spine fractures include, for example, those resulting from osteoporosis.

For fractures that make the spine unstable, surgery is performed. Its purpose is to fix the fracture and release the spinal cord or nerve roots from the pressure of the bone fragments. Emergency surgery is performed in patients with symptoms of partial damage to the spinal cord and compression and narrowing of the spinal canal visible on imaging studies. After surgery, rehabilitation is necessary.

Spine fracture - rehabilitation

In a patient with a fractured spine, a whole range of rehabilitation treatments is used. In the initial period, treatments are used to regenerate and stimulate bone growth (magnetic field or laser therapy) as well as improve blood supply and nourish soft tissues (solux lamp or low-frequency impulse currents, massages). Cryotherapy can be used to relieve pain.

The next stage of rehabilitation, after the bones are fused, is kinesiotherapy, i.e. performing therapeutic exercises - breathing, stretching and those aimed at strengthening the muscles of the spine. Kinesiotaping is also helpful, i.e. covering with special, flexible tapes that have a stabilizing effect.

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Category:

Spine, bones, joints