The spinal column is a critical component of the body’s structure, supporting an upright posture and protecting the sensitive nerves of the spinal cord responsible for communication between the brain and the rest of the body. A spinal fracture compromises important aspects of daily function. Spinal fractures are another way of describing vertebral fractures, of breaks in one or more vertebrae—the round bones separated by cushiony discs that protect the spinal cord.
Vertebral fractures can occur from trauma such as a fall in elderly individuals with weaker bones, or in younger people from more significant trauma and personal injury such as vehicle accidents, violence, falls, or contact sports injury.
Types of Vertebral Fractures
Vertebral or backbone fractures can occur anywhere along the spine from the cervical region in the neck to the sacral region at the tailbone. When significant trauma occurs from a car accident, bad fall, contact sports, or other blunt-force trauma, the following types of vertebral fractures can occur:
- Compression fractures: the front portion of the vertebral fractures and collapses into a wedge shape
- Axial fractures: a break on both the front and back of the vertebra
- Chance fractures: unstable vertebral fractures that involve both the round body of the vertebra and the spinous process (the bony protrusions on each vertebra)
- Burst fractures or axial burst fractures: a break in several portions of one or more vertebrae with bone pieces spreading out in multiple directions sometimes threatening or damaging the spinal cord
Vertebral fractures are also classified as stable or unstable fractures. In a stable vertebral fracture, the bones stay aligned while in an unstable fracture, they come out of alignment or pieces of bone migrate away from the spinal column. Unstable fractures place the spinal cord at risk of damage with the possibility of paralysis.
How Long Does It Take for Vertebral Fractures to Heal?
Minor vertebral fractures may heal well on their own with rest, limited or restricted mobility, and medications. Injury victims typically require a back brace to stabilize their spine during the healing process. More complex fractures may require surgery and physical therapy.
Most injury victims with compression fractures or stable fractures begin feeling better and increasing their mobility within a few weeks, but those with more serious fractures may require longer periods of wearing a brace to stabilize the spinal column while the bones heal, particularly those with burst fractures or unstable fractures with misalignment.
Those who suffered spinal cord damage experience partial or total paralysis from below the level of the spinal cord where the injury occurred depending on the severity of the injury, such as whether the cord was damaged or completely severed. Victims of vertebral fractures with spinal cord injuries do not recover their function since there aren’t yet cures for this type of injury, despite promising research for the future. Spinal cord injury victims who retain upper body function often regain self-sufficiency through the use of assistive equipment.
Recognizing the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Fracture
After a car accident or any accident involving a strong blow to the back or hard fall, the injury victim should see a doctor and undergo an examination to determine whether or not they’ve sustained a vertebral fracture. Symptoms of a fractured vertebra include:
- Pain in the back or neck
- Stiffness
- Numbness and tingling
- Weakness in the limbs
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Muscle spasms
Seeing a doctor is essential to diagnose and treat the injury as soon as possible to aid in healing and minimize the threat of damage to the spinal cord.
Along with a doctor to get the proper diagnosis and treatment, reaching out to a spinal cord injury lawyer in St. Louis would be another great option for you or your loved one if you suffered this injury from an individual’s negligence. With their expertise, they could provide you with the benefit of putting you on the right path towards compensation for any losses.