Vertebral Compression Fracture

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it?

• A vertebral (ver-t-brull) compression (kum-preh-shun) fracture (frak-shur) is when one or more bones in your spine (back) break down. The spine is made up of 33 bones and runs down the middle of your back. These bones are called vertebrae (ver-tih-bray). They protect the spinal cord. Following are some of the causes of a vertebral compression fracture.
  
  
  • An injury such as a fall.
    
    
  • Osteoporosis or "brittle bone" disease. People with osteoporosis do not have to fall or injure themselves to get broken vertebrae.
    
    
  • Some medicines can cause you to lose calcium from your bones. This makes it easier to get a vertebral compression fracture.
  
  
• Your signs and symptoms may be different depending on the cause of the fracture. If the injury happened suddenly, you may have bad pain or weakness in your back, arms or legs. If the injury happened slowly over time, you may only have a little pain. You might have problems urinating or having a BM.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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