Vertebral compression fractures: treatment and evaluation

Vertebral compression fractures can occur secondary trauma, malignancies, or most commonly osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes almost 1.5 million fractures throughout the United States every year and nearly 700,000 of these fractures are vertebral compression fractures. These fractures are frequently seen in elderly women; 40 percent of women older than 80 years old are affected by vertebral compression fractures. These injuries can be treated both conservatively and surgically. The conservative route includes bed rest, pain control, bracing, and strength training. The surgical method includes percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, both minimally invasive procedures. This article provides a general introduction to vertebral compression fractures and osteoporosis, the diagnostic methods used to identify vertebral compression fractures, and the known treatments.