How do vertebral body fractures happen?

There can be various causes of a vertebral column fracture: osteoporosis, accidents or cancer disease. However, the consequences are often the same: when the damaged vertebral body has collapsed – this is referred to as a compression fracture - the entire spine loses stability; it can become deformed and lose some of its flexibility. Sufferers complain about severe back pain which restricts them in their everyday lives and reduces their quality of life. In rare cases the fracture of a vertebral body can compress the spinal marrow or trap the spinal nerves – in the worst case this even leads to paralysis or sensation disorders.

Osteoporosis is the most frequent cause of vertebral body fractures. They often occur at the transition between the thoracic spine and the lumbar spine. In osteoporosis the vertebral bodies typically collapse, becoming wedge-shaped, and these are also referred to as fusion fractures.

They are triggered by sneezing, coughing or other sudden movements, so-called trivial traumas. However, in the case of osteoporosis vertebral bodies can collapse spontaneously, without any external influence.

In various cancer diseases so-called metastases develop in the bone. They particularly include breast cancer and prostate cancer, but also lung cancer and kidney cancer. In many cases the metastases are located in vertebral bodies, where they destroy bone tissue and thus cause a reduction in bone density. Sufferers feel back pain, which is triggered by growth of the metastases. In addition, vertebral bodies can collapse spontaneously – without any external influence – or as a result of trivial traumas such as sneezing or coughing.

After car accidents or falls, fractures of one or more vertebral bodies can occur owing to the massive action of force. They are often accompanied by injuries to the intervertebral discs, ligaments or spinal marrow. In some cases the vertebral body is very severely damaged, and this is referred to as an unstable fracture.

Depending on the cause and nature of the pain experienced, the attending doctor can firstly try conservative methods to ease the pain. These include pain-relief medication, support corsets and bed rest.

However, if the vertebral body fractures are unstable or if the patient is suffering from paralysis or sensation disorders, a major operation has to be performed in which the shape of the collapsed vertebral bodies is restored by plates.

Alternatively, sufferers can be helped by vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, although only if the vertebral body fractures are stable.