Vertebral fractures, injuries and their symptoms.

When an injury to the spine can be damaged as bone structures (vertebrae) and soft tissue (spinal discs, ligaments, muscles, nerve roots, spinal cord) occur. Possible consequences of the spinal cord injury is damage to the nerve cells and the development of structures of the instability of the spine.

The instability of the spine segment is likely to cause mechanical pain and spinal deformity. In some cases, the instability of the spinal cord or spinal cord dysfunction nerve root cause, as a result of the dynamic compression. Instability of the spinal column can result from certain types of fractures of the vertebrae, and break discs and ligaments that connect the vertebrae together. In many cases, the treatment of severe spinal injuries surgery. The main objectives of the operation is to remove the compression of the neural structures and to stabilize the spine to prevent further injury to the spinal cord and spinal deformities.

 Vertebrae and other bones of the body, usually a significant margin of safety, and can withstand heavy loads. However, when the external force exceeds the strength of the vortex is a violation of the integrity of its bone structure, then there is a break. Vertebral fractures in young and middle-aged are more common when exposed to a very large external force. The most common causes of spinal fractures in this category of people have car accidents, "trauma diver", falling from a great height.

 If there is a breakage of the reduction in the height of the vertebral body, this is called a compression fracture. This type of vertebral fractures occur most frequently. Often broken bones, including the spine, there are decreases in bone density. This disease is called osteoporosis and is most common in older women. Since 40% of women older than 80, at least once in their lives are compression fracture of the spine. In most cases, these fractures go unrecognized, but it can cause a progressive spinal deformity ("old boss"), and persistent back pain. For the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures enough to very small forces (for example, falling off the chair.)
 
Another relatively common cause of compression fractures of the spine is the metastasis of malignant tumors. Metastatic cancer screening called in other parts of the body. With the defeat of the vertebral metastases progressive destruction of the vertebral body, a fracture can occur with minimal external stress. The diagnosis of metastatic fracture most confirm infomativno radioisotope scanning.
 
Favourite localization compression fractures is the lower part of the spine. The most common fractures are of the body 11 and 12 thoracic and first lumbar vertebra.
 
Another variant of vertebral fractures - comminuted fractures. The heaviest fraction of the vortex type of fracture where the explosive vertebral breaks into several fragments, often lose contact with the rear vortex structures comminuted. Explosive rupture is very unstable fracture, so its presence is an indication for surgery.