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What are the symptoms, treatment and consequences of compression fracture of the spine in children?

A Compression fracture of the spine in children is considered a very serious and dangerous damage. The danger is that at the time of injury is the deformation of one or more vertebrae, causing the spine to adopt a wedge shape. This deformation occurs when the trauma to the front of the spine. In case of serious fractures there is a danger of pushing the portion of the vertebra in the spinal canal, and this leads to the clamping and severing of the spinal cord.

effects of compression fracture of the spine

A Compression fracture occurs due to abrupt or too heavy load on the spine. She has such trauma can happen during exercise, when falling from a height, with a sharp jump. Anatomical features of the child's spine is such that more often damaged vertebrae in the thoracic and lumbar. Compression fractures can be of different severity and have different flow, but they are expressed in the reduction of spinal compression.

Causes of fractures of the spine

Fractures of the spine in children are the most susceptible to lumbar, thoracic less often. This is due to high level of axial load in this area, which is caused by the tilt of the back, jumps or falls.

Mehanicheskaya spinal injury

Causes of fracture of the spine in children can mention a few:

  1. Weakness of the spinal column. A healthy spine can withstand considerable physical exertion and pulses that are transmitted during impact. If the spine is weak, even mild stress can cause fracture.
  2. Osteoporosis. The disease leads to a decrease in the mass of bone tissue, causing bones to become weak, loose and easily deformed.
  3. Lack of vitamins and minerals. Due to the lack of nutrients the body becomes weakened, which immediately affects the bone tissue. They become weak and unable to withstand the load.
  4. Strong mechanical action. A fall from a height or impact exceeding the load on the spine, can lead to deformation of the vertebrae.

regarding the mechanism of injury, often compression fractures occur due to flexion of the spine arch: in a dramatic somersault, fall on your back or head.

How to recognize pathology?

The child, unlike an adult, a young spine, respectively, tissue and vertebrae is more elastic. Therefore, symptoms may be mild, which is very difficult diagnosis.

Dizziness and nausea during spinal cord injuryAfter the injury, you must consult your doctor if there are some of these symptoms:

  • pain in the area of damage. Usually strong pain occur in the first minutes after the injury, then the pain gradually subsides at rest and increases with movement;
  • haematoma or bruising is one of the main symptoms of a fracture;
  • restriction of movement occurs when the injury of the transverse processes of the spine. Also on the fracture indicates a symptom like pain that radiates in the legs when attempting the movement.
  • General malaise – dizziness, nausea and weakness. These symptoms indicate serious damage by pinching nerve endings
  • nagging pain in the abdomen. This symptom occurs if a damaged vertebrae in the lumbar spine;
  • limited mobility of the head observed in trauma of the thoracic and cervical spine;
  • a feeling of pressure in the back. The presence of this symptom indicates damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots.

At the clinic for identification and diagnosis of compression fracture of the spine the methods of x-ray and CT scan of the injured area. The results of the study on the fracture indicate the following characteristics: the formation of wedge-shaped deformation, the lowering of or damage to the end plate, increasing the space between the vertebrae, lateral variation of the height of the vertebra.

Healing and recovery

The Main task of the first stage is analgesia, providing rest and unloading of the spine, which is achieved by stretching the spine. For this purpose the child is placed back on a hard surface, raising the head by 30 cm and Then secure the load with fabric straps and fix his armpits. Treats a trauma doctor, do not self medicate. At the same time used drugs, contributing to the restoration of blood flow to the damaged area.

Orthopedic corset for fixation of the spineIn the future, the choice of tactics of treatment of the fracture depends on the severity of the damage. For complex damage in the lumbar or the thoracic region, when the deformed three vertebrae and moreit is recommended to wear the corset. In particularly difficult cases may require surgical intervention.

The slight fracture 1 degree is assigned to medical therapy and complex exercise.

The Bed of the patient should be rigid, physical activity should be excluded.

Treatment of compressive fractures of a long and in children is approximately a month, and sometimes more. All this time there should be complete rest, and only the doctor can decide when to sit and stand.

In order to fully restore function of the spine would require a minimum long-term rehabilitation, including physical therapy complex, massage and medical gymnastics. Physical therapy helps to strengthen the spine and restore its flexibility and mobility. Depending on the disease, appointed physiotherapy or massage that help to restore circulation and muscle tone. The rehabilitation period can take more than two months, after which the child should be observed by a trauma surgeon for another two years.

Possible consequences.

Often a fracture of the spine in children mistaken for a simple injury and not pay for the injury and its symptoms due attention, which in more Mature age there are various pathologies. Even in mild compression fracture of the spine in the future there might be curvature of the spine, which will lead to premature development of diseases such as radiculitis, osteochondrosis.

The Consequences of complicated fractures may be necrosis of the tissue and a pinched nerve root. These problems can occur several years after injury and expressed severe pain in the back and limited mobility. And the consequences, such as kyphosis or scoliosis in young people have the root cause in spinal cord injuries that occurred in childhood.

The worst Thing that can happen if the spinal fracture, the paralysis, both temporary and irreversible, which occurs due to the strong compression of nerve or spinal cord injury.

In conclusion, it should be noted that compression fractures of the spine in children – a rare phenomenon. About 1-2% children suffer such injuries. Still not worth it to ignore a child's complaints of back pain, especially if it has been dropped or poorly executed exercise in gym class. Even if the damage is in only one vertebra, it can cause severe discomfort when exercising.