Spinal Fracture
Treatment
in Mumbai
Dealing with spinal fractures can be scary, specifically if they are caused by traumas such as car accidents or osteoporosis. The most essential thing you can do to reduce the long-term effects of a spinal fracture is to opt for fractured spine treatment. Read on to learn more about spinal fracture treatment in Mumbai.
What is a spinal fracture?
A spinal fracture is a medical condition caused by the breaking of your vertebrae. People often relate spinal fractures to a broken back. But a spinal fracture usually happens because of osteoporosis or injuries from sports, car accidents, or falls.
Most fractured spines don’t need any kind of surgery, but you may need to use a brace for some months. Although several fractured spines will need surgical treatment.
What are the types of spinal fractures?
Your doctor will categorize your spinal fracture based on its location and how your spine is broken. They will also categorize your fracture as steady or unsteady based on whether your vertebrae are out of their original alignment.
Different spine segments
Your spine is divided into three major segments, each of which can suffer from a fractured spine:
- Cervical spine fracture
Your neck has broken vertebrae - Thoracic spine fracture
Broken upper back vertebrae from neck to ribs - Lumbar spine fracture
Your lower back has broken vertebrae
Spinal fracture types
The following are the most common types of spinal fractures:
Compression fractures
These are small cracks or breaks in your vertebrae that are caused by lesions or evolve because of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a spinal condition that makes your bones weak, making them more prone to unexpected and sudden fractures. If you don’t take care of spinal compression caused by osteoporosis, it can cause you to lose a few inches of height or cause kyphosis.
Note: Kyphosis is a hunched-forward posture.
Burst fractures
Burst fractures happen when the spine is pressed by a strong force that comes out of nowhere. They can break your vertebrae into many pieces.
Chance (distraction/flexion) fractures
This fracture occurs when vertebrae are unexpectedly drawn away from one another. These fractures are the inverse of burst fractures.
What are the causes of spinal fractures?
Spinal fracture causes include:
Trauma
Trauma creates a lot of pressure on your vertebrae. Spines are generally very flexible. But a sudden force that is too strong, like a sports injury or a car accident, can put more pressure on the spine than a normal spine can handle. This can cause the spine to break.
Spinal tumors
Spinal tumors are caused by cancer metastasis, which means cancer that has extended from other parts of the body to the spine.
What are the symptoms of a spinal fracture?
Several patients never realize they have a spinal fracture. This is because a broken spine is caused by osteoporosis and not by an injury. You may experience no pain at all and only discover this during the diagnosis process.
Traumas are frequently associated with chance or burst fractures. If you experience a lesion, such as from a car accident or a fall, your back will be diagnosed, and then your injuries are treated. You may not notice certain symptoms from your fracture itself, certainly if you are treated inside the emergency room.
However, if you do experience a few symptoms, they might involve the following:
Back pain
Intense, sharp pain in your back. Pain may increase after a few days, especially when you are moving or walking.
Tenderness or swelling
The area around the fractured spine might be painful to touch or swollen.
Posture changes
A new stoop or slump in the spine that makes you lean forward.
Numbness or tingling
A numb or tingling feeling in the back that may extend down your legs or arms
Height loss
You may lose a few inches after a short time.
Incontinence
A new ability loss to bowel or bladder control.
How do doctors diagnose spinal fractures?
With the help of imaging tests and physical exams, your doctor will figure out that your spine is broken. They will take a view of your back, feel for any points that are painful or tender, and note down any changes to your spine shape and posture. Make sure you tell them the exact spot where you are hurting and about any new discomfort or pain.
If you are facing trauma injuries, the fracture may be diagnosed by doctors inside the emergency room. Once you are stabilized, they will diagnose your injury or fracture.
After your physical exams, you may need at least one of the following imaging tests to find out why your bones are out of place:
- Spine X-ray
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- CT scan
- Bone Density Test- DXA or DEXA
What are the treatments for spinal fractures?
Treatments for your spinal fracture are based on a few aspects, such as:
- The main cause of your fracture
- Fracture type
- The exact location of your broken vertebra
Spinal surgeries are needed only in a few rare cases. Some of the common treatments involve:
Bracing
You may need to use a back brace to keep your spine aligned and allow your fractured spine to heal appropriately. Most patients need to wear it for several months. Our doctors at One Spine Clinic will talk to you about which brace type you might need and how long you need to use it.
Physiotherapy process
Strengthening your back muscles can make you stronger overall, lower your risk of a broken spine, and slow down bone loss. You might need to work with a physiotherapist and do the exercises that he or she tells you to do.
Treating osteoporosis
If you have osteoporosis, your doctor may suggest that you take medicine or over-the-counter drugs to make your bones stronger and keep them from breaking again.
If you hurt your back in an accident, our doctors at One Spine Clinic will treat your injuries based on how bad they are, especially if some of them could kill you.
Surgeries for spinal fracture
If a fractured spine is threatening or damaging the spinal cord, or if your spinal pain and discomfort don’t improve after non-surgical treatments for a few months, you may need surgery. The most common surgeries to treat spinal fractures are kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.
Both of these surgeries are generally outpatient, so you may be able to return home on the same day. You will need bed rest for a day, and then you can carry on with your usual routine. Try to avoid intense exercises and heavy lifting for around two months after the surgery.
Your surgeon will thoroughly explain which surgery you might need and why. If a tumor, either benign or cancerous, caused your broken spine, you may need more or different procedures to remove the mass before your spine can be treated.
How soon will I feel better after the treatment?
Most patients feel better a few weeks after their treatment at One Spine Clinic.
But the time it takes for your vertebrae to heal depends on the type of fracture, which vertebrae are hurt, and any other injuries you may have had.
The most essential thing you can do to prevent the long-term effects of spinal fractures is to consult a spine specialist. At One Spine Clinic, we have a team of spine specialists who are very skilled and have been treating spine patients for a long time. If you are in search of the best spinal fracture treatment in Mumbai, you can always feel free to contact us!
conditions
Surgery
- spinal fusion
- spinal reconstruction
- Microdiscectomy
- Laminectomy
