Vertebral burst fracture Vertebroplasty Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure; just a small nick is made. You May Also Like Balloon Kyphoplasty Video. Could your low back pain be SI-joint related? Request a Free Information Kit. Stay Informed with SpineUniverse Sign up to receive free updates on back pain treatments, research, and doctor-reviewed spine health information.

As bones in the spinal column grow weaker or collapse due to disease or injury, they compress against other bones, nerves and tissues, causing limited movement and range of motion, pain and numbness. Following a compression fracture in the spine, patients are often instructed to wear a brace for 6 to 12 weeks, followed by supervised physical therapy exercise. Low-impact aerobic exercise like walking may be suggested by your physical therapist, but will depend on your progress and prognosis following injury or pain as well as what caused the compression fracture in the first place.

Follow your physical therapist and doctor's instructions regarding resumption of any type of exercise following a compression fracture. Low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming and riding a bike can be performed tri-weekly, for 30 to 40 minutes maximum each time, depending on your strength and stamina. Sudden downward force shatters and collapses the body of the vertebrae. If the force is great enough, it may send bone fragments into the spinal canal, called a burst fracture.

People affected by osteoporosis, tumors, and certain forms of cancer that weaken bone are prone to vertebral compression fractures VCF. The fracture appears as a wedge-shaped collapse of the vertebra. Multiple VCFs can cause a forward hunch of the spine called kyphosis. For example, when the rapid forward motion of the upper body against a seat belt pulls apart the vertebra and stretches the ligaments. A dislocated vertebra can cause instability and spinal cord compression.

They usually require stabilization surgery or a brace. Fracture-dislocations : occur when bone is broken and the ligaments are torn Fig. These fractures are usually unstable, tend to be very debilitating, and are often surgically repaired. Symptoms of a spinal fracture vary depending on the severity and location of the injury. Paralysis is a loss of movement in the arms or legs and may indicate a spinal cord injury.

Not all fractures cause spinal cord injury and rarely is the spinal cord completely severed. Diseases such as osteoporosis and spine tumors also contribute to fractures. A radial ulnar fracture is most commonly caused by a traumatic impact of your wrist, usually during a fall with your arm extended. This type of fracture is a medical emergency: seek medical attention immediately if a fracture is suspected. You can typically expect your forearm to be immobilized in a cast for six to eight weeks following the injury.

Afterwords, it is important to undergo physical therapy to rehabilitate the muscles and ligaments that have atrophied, or lost size and strength, during immobilization. In the first few days after a radial ulnar fracture, your doctor may place your arm in a sling. Kyphoplasty for an Osteoporosis Fracture. Sources of Calcium in Food. Peer Reviewed. The cuboid is a roughly cube-shaped bone found on the outer side of the foot just past the end of the heel bone, and just before the bone prominence that flares out in the mid-part of the outer edge of the foot.

It is thick, strong, and fractures involving only this bone are rare.