Broken Back
A broken back can be a severe
injury
which should receive immediate expert medical attention. The
spine
is comprised of 24 individual
vertebral bones,
as well as the
sacrum
and the
coccyx.
Any of these spinal bones can fracture, causing what is known as a broken spine or back. Damage to the spinal bones does not signify definite injury to the
spinal cord
or nerves. Only a qualified doctor can properly diagnose spinal damage and possible injury to the neurological spinal tissues. Minor hairline fractures or chips might not require anything more than simple medical monitoring to be sure they heal completely. Moderate fractures may require symptomatic care, while significant and extreme fractures may even require surgical intervention to preserve the integrity of the vertebral column.
What is a Broken Back?
A broken spine is defined as one or more broken, fractured or misaligned vertebral bones. The condition has a wide range of health implications and possible symptoms. An accurate diagnosis is very important for any patient with a suspected
vertebral fracture.
The patient should insist on an
MRI
or CT scan if there is any indication of potential neurological damage at the injured vertebral level. Common indicators of nerve damage are
weakness,
tingling
or
numbness
in the affected location.Being that the vertebrae are complex in structure, fractures can occur in any of the joints, the vertebral body itself or the small fins on the dorsal surface, known as processes.
Causes of a Broken Back
Osteoporosis
is a quiet condition which can cause vertebral fractures without the patient suffering any trauma. The actual weight of the body is sometimes all that is required to cause a broken spinal bone. A single vertebral stress fracture might go completely unnoticed by the patient and their doctor. Many of these minor cracks are normal parts of the aging process for some patients with
low bone density
and can be completely asymptomatic. Fractures can also come from any significant trauma such a fall,
car accident
act of violence or
sports injury.
Once again, vertebral bones might be chipped or fractured in a minor and almost insignificant way. These types of injuries are usually not serious and will heal completely with minor medical supervision. Serious breaks or multiple breaks can cause huge problems for the patient. Besides threatening the actual spinal cord or spinal nerves, extreme trauma often causes
spinal instability.
This condition almost always requires
surgical
intervention to stabilize the spine and insure no further damage to sensitive tissues.
Broken Back and Spinal Cord Injury
Even major trauma to the spine does not guarantee that the patient will suffer a
spinal cord injury.
Many patients break multiple vertebral bones and do not injure their spinal cord at all. It is possible to actually bruise or injure the spinal cord in a minor way. This type of damage might heal completely with time or might leave some permanent neurological effects. It is possible to experience a
complete spinal cord injury
from any significant vertebral break. This condition is most often disastrous for a patient, since it results in
paralysis
below the injured spinal level. In rare circumstances, it is possible to damage or even sever the spinal cord without suffering any broken or fractured vertebral bones at all. When injury occurs from a traumatic event, neurological effects may or may not present themselves immediately.
Recommendation for a Broken Back
A damaged spine should always be taken seriously. Even minor damage can cause complications which can threaten a patient’s future functionality. Minor spinal damage should heal well and leave the patient fully capable of living life to the fullest. Make sure to learn how a proper
rehabilitation
program can help you to regain lost function from many spinal fractures. Spinal cord injuries are the worst type of damaged spinal structure. An injured cord can and will definitely change a patient’s life drastically. Not all spinal cord damage is permanent and some function can be regained, even in cases of significant injury. To learn more about regeneration from cord injuries, I highly recommend seeking out a specialist in spinal
neurology.
Broken Back to Back Pain
9/3/07 Revised 12/1/11
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