Back Pain
Ask the doctor: What can you tell me about surgery for vertebral fractures?
Q. I have osteoporosis and a recent spine fracture. I hear there's a minor surgical procedure that can fix the fracture. Can you tell me anything about it?
A. Fractures of the bones in the spinal column (vertebrae) are common in people with osteoporosis; about 750,000 occur each year in the United States. In this type of fracture, called a compression fracture, the vertebra collapses, often causing pain, a gradual loss of height, or stooped posture. Even if the fracture doesn't cause obvious symptoms, having one fracture increases the risk of having another one. The cumulative effect of multiple fractures is chronic pain, disability, depression, and difficulty managing normal daily activities.
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