Causes, symptoms, treatment and consequences of fracture of the lumbar vertebra

In the practice of trauma often occurs a fracture of a vertebra of the lumbar spine, the treatment lasts long enough. The spine is the part of the musculoskeletal system that is subjected to the highest loads. The vertebrae are composed of solid bone tissue and intervertebral discs cushion the load. However, bone tissue in the strokes can not stand, especially if it has become brittle due to any chronic disease. Most often, there is a compression fracture of the first lumbar vertebra. This is due to the fact that it is on the lower back account for the majority of loads while walking and hard work.

causes of injury

fracture of the 1st lumbar vertebra may occur when exposed to severe forces to the vertebra, for example, when you jump on your feet from great heights. There are other causes for this injury. One of the factors leading to fragility of the bone tissue is osteoporosis. In the leaching of calcium modifies the bone structure, the bone weakens and becomes more sensitive to mechanical damage. The fracture may result, even a simple contusion of the lower back. Susceptible to this disease, mainly older people. It causes the person hump and loss of height.

Fracture of 4 vertebrae can occur when the subsidence of the intervertebral cartilage, where it loses its shock absorbing quality. When this bone becomes unprotected, for the occurrence of injury of a very minor mechanical effect.

A Compression fracture of a vertebra 12, as well as any other parts of the spine, you can get in an automobile accident, falling from a great height, the impact with a heavy object, etc. To the thinning of bone tissue and subsequent injury also results in the penetration of metastases of cancerous tumors in the spine.

the Main symptoms pathology

the Main characteristics of the injury depend on the location of the damaged vertebra and extent of the fracture. Affects the symptoms and the cause that led to the injury. Therefore, we can identify characteristic of some of the causes signs. At fracture, resulting from mechanical impact, the victim feels severe pain in the lumbar region radiating to the lower limb. If the injury occurs a pinched nerve, there is weakness in the legs, paralysis, loss of sensation. If the vertebra is gradually destroyed due to leaching of calcium, the patient is experiencing constant aching pain, which is increased by walking or exercise. The above signs are not the most dangerous, the least favourable is an injury where the spinal cord is squeezed. In this case, in addition to pain, there is violation of functions of organs of abdominal cavity and small pelvis. The biggest danger is a fracture of vertebra with displacement, it can lead to immobility of the lower limbs. In the complete rupture of the brain the consequences are irreversible.

With the advent of the above symptoms, the victim should immediately be taken to the hospital. Before you start treatment, the doctor needs to determine the localization and degree of severity of the injury. For this purpose several diagnostic procedures. To begin with, the patient undergoes x-ray examination of the lumbar spine in multiple projections. This allows you to identify all damaged bone tissues. Now comes the turn of MRI for detecting the pinching of the spinal cord and nerve endings. This is also myelography. In older age is assigned densitometry is a procedure that allows you to define osteoporosis, the development of which leads to poor nutrition and physical inactivity. The physician should assess the spinal cord function to determine the effects of the fracture.

How to treat a spinal fracture?

If severe pain and loss of sensitivity is not observed, the patient is treated by conservative methods. First of all, the lower back should be locked in a fixed position with the help of corsets and plaster casts. The patient is advised to lie. When the fracture vertebra lumbar treatment includes bed rest. Relieve pain with analgesics, but the patient should understand that even if there's no pain, then for complete recovery will still take at least 3 months. At this time the patient should avoid heavy exercise. Rehabilitation rehabilitation is a course of special exercises.

You need to Implement them only after the bone completely heals.

The Aim of gymnastics is to strengthen the muscular frame and the restore function of damaged vertebra. To neglect exercise is not necessary, consequences of the weakening of the muscles often become hernia and protrusion of intervertebral cartilage.

In the event thatif fracture damaged nerve roots and spinal cord, pains and disorders of the internal organs. Such conditions require surgical treatment. The main aim of surgery is to eliminate compression of the spinal cord. Currently popular are the methods of surgical interventions, such as kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. During a vertebroplasty in the cavity of the injured vertebra medical cement is injected. This helps make the vertebrae stronger and relieve pain. The recovery period decreases significantly.

Kyphoplasty is a more effective method. It not only reduces the period of rehabilitation, and helps restore the physiological height of the vertebra. The vertebral body is injected with a special material that expands and raises it to the required level. After this, the vertebra is fixed with medical cement. However, even after such surgery, the physiotherapy exercises are necessary.