Duration of a vertebral fracture
introduction
Eddy currents can break in various places. So, to put it bluntly, a fracture of a vertebra is not just a fracture of the vertebra. A vortex consists of that Vertebral bodies - this is the thick, rounded, and largest part of the vortex in terms of area. Furthermore, the closes towards the rear Vertebral arch that surrounds and protects the spinal cord. The two close behind him at an angle Transverse processes on, and straight back the Spinous process.
Depending on the fracture site, different complaints arise, different treatment methods are indicated, and the result is a different healing time.
Figure vertebral body
1. Transverse process
2nd nerve
3. vertebral bodies
4. Spinous process
5. spinal cord
Vertebral fracture on the vertebral body
The vertebral body assumes a support function. It ensures an upright posture and is, so to speak, a support stone for the spine. A fracture usually has to be treated surgically, which in addition to the surgical procedure also includes a certain healing time.
The further down the vertebral body lies in the spine, the more weight it has to carry - this is why vertebrae in the lumbar area are also much more stable than the delicate cervical vertebrae. As for all other bones, the following applies: After 6-8 weeks, a fracture is usually healed. Osteoporosis, calcium deficiency and age have a negative impact on this value; it can also take longer here. There are several treatment methods for a vertebral fracture on the vertebral body. In addition to conservative therapy with Painkillers, the vertebral body can for example "sprayed on“(With a kind of liquid concrete). Since this hardens quickly and the bone does not have to grow back together, patients who have been operated on can usually move and walk around painlessly a few days after the operation. Often the patients have to be slowed down in their activism in order to prevent another break.
The situation is different with spinal fusion, the so-called Vertebral blockage.
Here two or more vertebral bodies are screwed together using screws and rods and stiffened. The load is removed from the vertebral fracture and transferred to the metal rods. The time it takes to achieve full mobility after such an operation is long and full of privation: 6-8 weeks may only be sitting or lying down in certain positions. In addition, a corset must be worn. Whether a surgical procedure is necessary and what type of operation is performed depends on the one hand on the type of vertebral fracture, but also on the other circumstances. A young athlete is more inclined to have an operation than an old, bedridden patient who would be forced into a corset for a further 2 months without much benefit.
Illustration of a vertebral fracture
Vertebral fracture (vertebral fracture)
- Transverse process -
Transverse process - Spinous process -
Spinous process - Upper articular process -
Superior articular process - Lower articular process -
Inferior articular process - Spinal nerve -
Spinal nerve - Spinal cord -
Medula spinalis - Gelatinous core - Nucleus pulposus
- Vertebral arch - Arcus vertebrae
- Fiber ring - Annulus fibrosus
- Vertebral bodies - Corpus vertebrae
- First thoracic vertebra -
Vertebra thoracica I - Twelfth thoracic vertebra -
Vertebra thoracica XII - First lumbar vertebra -
Vertebra lumbalis I - Fifth lumbar vertebra -
Vertebra lumbalis V
a - cervical spine (cervical spine)
b - thoracic spine (BWS)
c - lumbar spine (lumbar spine)
A - vertebral fracture (spinous process,
Vertebral bodies) from above
B - vertebral fracture (spinous process,
Vertebral body) from the right
C - Most common area of the
Vertebral fracture
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
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Vertebral fracture on the vertebral arch
The vertebral arch surrounds the spinal cord - and is therefore at a critical point: If it breaks, it can penetrate the spinal cord and cause paraplegia. In this respect, the indication for surgery is given here quite generously.
Most of the time, the vertebral arch is surgically screwed or flattened. The screw or plate usually remains on the vertebral body and is not removed again. As with other bone fractures, the rest period is 6-8 weeks.
Vertebral fracture on the spinous process
On the spinous process put ligaments and part of the Back muscles on. A broken spinous process alone does not necessarily have to produce clinical symptoms. Only from one larger number broken vertebrae must also be operated on, as the stability of the back muscles is impaired. After all, the muscle has nowhere to "hold on" when everything is broken! The rupture of a single spinous process can still, however conservative be treated. Next discharge and physical therapy is above all the protection up to completed bone healing important after 6-8 weeks. A full resilience is only after 3-4 months expected.
Vertebral fracture on the transverse processes
Like the spinous process, they are Transverse processes Starting points for ligaments and muscles. There is a break at the transverse process very rarely, and usually a result of one extreme, blunt forceThe Brazilian soccer player Neymar suffered such a break in the game against Colombia during the 2014 World Cup. He dropped out for the rest of the World Cup and had to four-month break in play insert. This shows that even with an undoubtedly experienced and renowned team of doctors and physiotherapists, a long healing period cannot be avoided.
Favoring factors
Factors that speed up the healing time after a vertebral fracture are next Protection and bed rest also physical therapy and Rehab. A corset also prevents harmful movements. In physiotherapy, the Muscle apparatus built up, and take the strain off the broken vertebra. That's why there is a Strengthening the back muscles also an important part of the therapy after the Bone healing. However, the bone healing must be completed, otherwise the fracture could tear again and the duration of the healing process would be extended again. The physiotherapy closes for a duration of 3-4 months and should take discomfort as possible and restore the range of motion.
Blue: healthy vertebral body
Red: broken vertebral body
Factors that adversely affect healing
The duration of healing can be due to a variety of factors extended become. Besides the usual operative complications, the break can through lack of protection again tear down (so-called relapse). Inflammation and Abscesses can affect the healing rate. In general, bones become more porous and slow to heal with age. The New formation of bone cells in the bone no longer works as well in an elderly patient as it does in a young one. osteoporosis-Patients are particularly at risk: The changed bone structure leads to a greatly increased risk of fractures. Screws or plates no longer hold so well in the bone and the overall healing process is slowed down. Also Calcium deficiency, or taking Estrogens (Birth control pills) cause a decreased bone density. All these factors lead to the fact that the healing time after a vertebral fracture - regardless of the location - is extended.
Duration of the operation in the case of vertebral fracture
The duration of an operation for a vertebral fracture varies from procedure to procedure. It depends on the type of intervention and the extent of the damage. A Vertebroplasty or Kyphoplasty, which are minimally invasive surgery acts, last between 30 to 60 minutes. These procedures are at stable fractures used, which show pain despite conservative therapy.
The vertebrae are in the so-called. Kyphoplasty erected with the help of a balloon and filled with bone cement for stabilization, a so-called. Vertebroplasty is the sole filling with bone cement without prior straightening. Other operations that are used to treat vertebral fractures, such as the so-called Spinal fusion (Vertebral blocking / vertebral stiffening) or others osteosynthetic, that is, surgical bone-stabilizing procedures last up to several hours, depending on how complicated the fraction is.
Duration of pain after a vertebral fracture
A vertebral fracture can be extremely painful. It can become one Tenderness come over the affected vertebra, but also a Pounding and sprain pain is provocable. Whether and how severe the pain is also depends on the type of break and the cause.
Vertebral fractures are particularly common in car accidents or falls. Then usually too surrounding tissue such as the muscles and soft tissues are also damaged, pain is not uncommon. However, vertebral fractures can also occur as part of a so-called pathological fracture arise. Causes for this are, for example, bone tumors or osteoporosis. The break can also occur here relatively few symptoms or painless, represent. The duration of the pain is therefore difficult to estimate. The type of fracture, other accompanying injuries and the type of therapy are relevant.
In particular stable breaks often present themselves very much few symptoms and can be conservative, i.e. without surgery. However, there are also stable breaks, for example in one osteoporosis, i.e. a decrease in bone density that presents with persistent pain, so that surgery may also be necessary.
At Unstable fractures require surgeryso pain can last for several weeks. This then includes pain caused by the fracture and pain caused by the operation. By a adequate pain management however, attempts are made to keep the pain as low as possible.
So it is difficult to tell from a distance how long the pain will last with a vertebral fracture. There are fractures that hardly hurt at all, and others that can be expected to hurt for up to a few weeks. An exact assessment results from the exact diagnosis and can be made by the treating orthopedic surgeon.
Total duration of treatment for vertebral fractures
Treatment of a vertebral fracture can between 6 and 8 weeks last for. Conservative therapy includes stabilizing measures such as physical therapy or the creation of a Corsets. Of course, good pain management is also important. In the case of surgical treatment, the Follow-up care can take up to several weeks or even months, as the patients first have to take it easy after the operation until the treated fracture is really stable.
The duration of the therapy varies from person to person and can be estimated by the treating orthopedic surgeon.
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