HistoryMidline back pain is the hallmark symptom of lumbar compression fractures. The pain is axial, nonradiating, aching, or stabbing in quality and may be severe and disabling. The location of the pain corresponds to the fracture site, as seen on radiographs. In elderly patients with severe osteroporosis, however, there may be no pain at all as the fracture occurs spontaneously. Show Young adults may present with severe back pain following an accident, such as a fall or a motor vehicle accident. Lower extremity weakness or numbness are important symptoms of neurologic injury from the fracture. Vertebral fractures may also cause referred pain. Gibson et al presented a study of 350 patient encounters in 288 patients with one or more compression fractures without conus medullaris compromise or spinal nerve compression. They found that nonmidline pain was present in 240 of the 350 encounters. The pain was typically in the ribs, hip, groin, or buttocks. Treatment of the fracture with vertebroplasty (see Other Treatment) resulted in 83% of those patients gaining pain relief. [10] Acute radiculopathy can also be experienced after lumbar compression fractures; the incidence rises with descending spinal levels. [11] Alternatively, many compression fractures are painless. Osteoporosis is a silently progressive disease. Osteoporotic compression fractures are often diagnosed when an elderly patient presents with symptoms such as progressive scoliosis or mechanical lower back pain and the physician obtains routine lumbar radiographs. Finally, patients may present with a known (or unknown) malignancy. Routine spinal screening via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; if focal or referred pain occurs), or via bone scan (as a survey if pain has not occurred) reveals the pathologic fracture. The most common malignancies leading to spinal involvement in the form of fractures are metastasis and multiple myeloma. Often, the compression fracture is the presenting manifestation that leads to the diagnosis of malignancy. However, patients may also have unexplained fevers, night sweats, past history of malignancy, or weight loss. Finally, patients who have recently traveled outside of the United States, or who live in the inner city, may have symptoms of infection, such as general malaise, fever, or severely increasing pain. In these patients, osteomyelitis and Pott disease (tuberculosis spondylitis) must be ruled out. PhysicalA detailed neurologic examination is essential in all patients presenting with back pain, spine deformity, or traumatic spine injury. Most interventional procedures to alleviate pain in compression fractures are contraindicated in cases of neurologic compromise. Thus, a rectal examination is required to assess for rectal tone and sensation in trauma patients. Upon inspection of the spine, the patient typically has a kyphotic posture that cannot be corrected. The kyphosis is caused by the wedge shape of the fractured vertebra; the fracture essentially turns the lateral conformation of the vertebra from a square to a triangle. Hip flexor contractures due to iliopsoas shortening are typically present. Palpation is important to correlate any reports of pain to the radiographic level of injury. Extreme pain elicited with superficial palpation is often observed in patients with spinal infections. Moderate pain is usually present at the level of the fracture. CausesThe principal underlying cause of lumbar compression fractures is osteoporosis. In women, the leading risk factor for osteoporosis is menopause, or estrogen deficiency. Additional risk factors that may worsen the severity of osteoporosis include cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, use of prednisone and other medications, and poor nutrition. In males, all of the above nonhormonal risk factors apply; however, low testosterone levels also may be associated with compression fractures. Renal failure and liver failure are both associated with osteopenia. Nutritional deficiencies can decrease bone remodeling and increase osteopenia. Finally, genetics also play a role in the development of compression fractures; osteoporosis can be observed in closely related family members. Malignancy may manifest initially as a compression fracture. The most common malignancy in the spine is metastasis. Typical malignancies that metastasize to the spine are renal cell, prostate, breast, and lung, although other types can metastasize to the spine on rare occasions. The 2 most common primary spine malignancies are multiple myeloma and lymphoma. Infection that results in osteomyelitis can also result in a compression fracture. Typically, the most common organisms in a chronic infection are staphylococci or streptococci. Tuberculosis can occur in the spine and is called Pott disease.
Author Andrew L Sherman, MD, MS Associate Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, Vice Chairman, Chief of Spine and Musculoskeletal Services, Program Director, SCI Fellowship and PMR Residency Programs, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Miami, Leonard A Miller School of Medicine Andrew L Sherman, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Association of Academic Physiatrists, Florida Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Coauthor(s) Nizam Razack, MD, FACS Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Orthopedics, and Rehabilitation, University of Miami; Neurosurgeon, Spine and Brain Neurosurgery Center; Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery, Orlando Regional Medical Center Nizam Razack, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, Florida Medical Association, Society for Neuro-Oncology, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Specialty Editor Board Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape. Patrick M Foye, MD Director of Coccyx Pain Center, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Co-Director of Musculoskeletal Fellowship, Co-Director of Back Pain Clinic, University Hospital Patrick M Foye, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Chief Editor Additional Contributors What is a compression fracture in your back?Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) occur when the bony block or vertebral body in the spine collapses, which can lead to severe pain, deformity and loss of height. These fractures more commonly occur in the thoracic spine (the middle portion of the spine), especially in the lower part.
What causes a compression fracture?What causes a compression fracture? Osteoporosis is the most common cause of compression fractures. Osteoporosis is a type of bone loss that causes bones to break easily. Other causes include injuries to the spine (such as from car accidents and sports injuries) and tumors in the spine.
What are the 3 types of compression fractures?There are three types of compression fractures: wedge, crush, and burst.
Is a compression fracture a broken back?A compression fracture occurs when the front of a vertebra breaks and loses a little of its height, but the back of that vertebra remains intact. Symptoms include pain in the back and sometimes in the arms or legs.
|
A client who has severe back pain is found to have a vertebral compression fracture Quizlet
zusammenhängende Posts
Urheberrechte © © 2024 de.apacode Inc.
