Vertebral Compression Fracture
Treatment for Vertebral Compression Fractures on Long Island
Without treatment, a vertebral compression fracture can get worse and end up affecting your posture and the stability of your spine. Vertebral compression fracture therapies and treatments can give your body the strength it needs to heal the fracture properly. Once a fracture is healed, your symptoms should go away with time and physical therapy, and you should be able to resume living a normal, healthy life. Dr. Salvatore Palumbo, specializes in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures on Long Island and throughout New York. Call us today to schedule a consultation.
What Is a Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF)?
Compression fractures are very small breaks in the vertebrae or the bones in your spine. These compression fractures most often occur in the vertebral body and affect vertebrae in the middle part of the spine. The vertebral body is the thick, rounded part at the front of the vertebra. Over time, untreated fractures can increase your risk of a weakened spine or spinal collapse, and they affect your posture. There are many different causes of vertebral compression fractures (VCF), including trauma, osteoporosis, and tumors on the spine.
Types of Vertebral Compression Fractures
There are three categories or types of vertebral compression fractures. When you visit Dr. Palumbo and his team, we will run diagnostic tests and take diagnostic images to determine which type you have:
Keep an eye out for increasingly intense pain. Even worse, the progression can be plodding, which means many of our patients don’t seek treatment until long after the injury occurred. Another thing to pay attention to: If lying flat on yA wedge fracture is the most common kind of vertebral compression fracture. This type of fracture occurs at the front of the vertebra and causes it to collapse, leaving the back of the bone intact. This type of VCF can be mechanically stable but can affect posture and quality of life.our back entirely or partially brings pain relief, but standing makes it worse, then compression fractures might be to blame.
A biconcave or burst compression fracture causes the vertebrae to collapse. This type of fracture happens in multiple directions and causes pieces of bone to migrate into the surrounding tissues. It is much more serious than other types of VCFs and may be unstable. This type of VCF usually requires immediate medical attention and surgery.
A crush fracture is a fracture that affects the entire vertebra instead of just the front. The bone collapses in on itself, but the fracture is typically mechanically stable.
Causes of Vertebral Compression Fractures
There are many different causes of VCFs. The most common causes of vertebral compression fractures are:
- Age-related bone degeneration
- Congenital issues
- Osteoporosis
- A fall, car accident, sports injury, or other traumatic accident
- Cancerous spinal tumors
Vertebral Compression Fracture Symptoms
The symptoms of vertebral compression fractures can be mild and almost unnoticeable or severe. Some people may not even realize they have a VCF until they are visiting their doctor for another reason and have to get a spinal x-ray or MRI. The most common symptoms of vertebral compression fractures are:
- Sudden and prolonged back pain
- Trouble standing up straight and walking
- Reduced mobility or flexibility of the spine
- A hunched-over appearance and inability to twist or bend over
- Height loss
- Pinched nerves and sciatica
- Bladder or bowel incontinence
Vertebral Compression Fracture Diagnosis
Dr. Palumbo and his team can diagnose a vertebral compression fracture. We will begin by reviewing your symptoms, discussing your lifestyle and habits, and reviewing your medical and family medical history. Dr. Palumbo will gently touch and push on different areas of your back. He may ask you to complete simple physical movements to assess your posture, strength, dexterity, gait, flexibility, and mobility. He will also run diagnostic imaging tests like an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan.
Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment Options
Dr. Palumbo will design a highly individualized treatment plan that will relieve pain, improve mobility and range of motion, reduce inflammation and swelling, prevent future pain or fractures, and stabilize the bones in your spine so your spine can heal. He may recommend:
- Pain medication
- Stabilizing back brace
- Minimally invasive procedures to stabilize the bone and relieve pain, like vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty
- Surgery
Why Choose Dr. Salvatore Palumbo for VCF?
Dr. Salvatore Palumbo, is a highly skilled and experienced neurosurgeon. He has decades of advanced experience in spinal reconstruction for traumatic and degenerative spinal disorders and treating intracranial tumors. When you visit our office, you will receive treatment in a welcoming, comforting environment that is not overly clinical. We provide patient-centered care and treatment options designed to address the root cause of your symptoms. Our goal is to find safe, effective solutions that relieve pain and improve quality of life.
Find Treatment for Vertebral Compression Fracture
Visit Dr. Salvatore Palumbo, for fast, effective vertebral compression fracture treatment on Long Island and throughout New York. Dr. Palumbo and his team can thoroughly evaluate your symptoms, make a professional diagnosis, and design a personalized vertebral compression fracture treatment plan. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation to discuss treatment of your back pain or VCF.