How is l5 compression fracture treated?
Compression fractures of the spine are typically treated with rest, bracing, heat and/or cold therapy and pain-relieving medication. In more severe cases, compression fractures are treated with kyphoplasty, which is a minimally invasive procedure.
What is a compression fracture of l2?
A compression fracture is a type of broken bone that can cause your vertebrae to collapse, making them shorter. This often happens to the front of the vertebrae but not the back, causing you to stoop forward over time.
How long does it take for a l2 fracture to heal?
This takes most of the pressure off the fractured vertebral body, and allows the vertebrae to heal. It also protects the vertebra and stops further collapse of the bone. Vertebral fractures usually take about three months to fully heal.
How long do back compression fractures take to heal?
Many spine compression fractures heal in two or three months. If you have osteoporosis, a full recovery may take as long as a year. Regular follow-up visits during this time allow your doctor to evaluate the fractured vertebra and the way your spine is responding to the injury.
How serious is a compression fracture?
Compression fractures can cause the vertebrae to collapse, making them shorter in height. This collapse can also cause pieces of bone to press on the spinal cord and nerves, decreasing the amount of blood and oxygen that gets to the spinal cord.
What is the best way to treat a compression fracture?
Traditional treatment for compression fractures include pain medications, bed rest, bracing or, in very severe cases, surgery. Today there are two promising therapeutic and preventive treatments for compression fractures called vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.
What are the complications of a compression fracture?
Complications of vertebral compression fractures include the following: deep venous thrombosis; acceleration of osteoporosis; loss of height; respiratory or gastrointestinal disturbances; and emotional and social problems secondary to unremitting pain and loss of independence.
What is the prognosis of lumbar compression fractures?
For many people, a spinal compression fracture will hurt less as the bone heals. That can take up to 2 or 3 months . Other people will still have pain after the fracture has healed. Some people feel almost no symptoms from spinal compression fractures.
What causes compression fractures?
A compression fracture is most likely to be caused by serious trauma to the spine, particularly in the case of falling from an extreme height. Because of the force necessary to cause compression fractures, they often occur in tandem with other injuries, including damage to the spinal cord and severe ligament damage.