Problems Following an Anterior Wedge Fracture of the Spine If the fracture is severe, then a CT scan may also be performed. The ideal way to see a compression fracture is with an X-Ray or MRI scan. During a physical examination there are some tests which can be done to help diagnose an anterior wedge fracture, however it is known that these tests are not particularly reliable and can create false-positives. However, in many cases, the pain may present as other issues in the spine. In some cases with just a history it is possible to diagnose the fracture, for example if a known osteoporotic person has had a fall. How to Diagnose an Anterior Wedge Fracture to the Spineĭiagnosis is not easy and it’s possible for these to be missed. In a younger person without osteoporosis, the trauma would need to be significant to have enough force to fracture the vertebra. Also if there is underlying weakness in the bone, for example in osteoporosis, then the wedging is likely to be more pronounced. Depending on the severity of the fracture will depend upon the level of wedging that occurs. As the bone at the front of the vertebra collapses, it forms a wedge shape. This is why compression fractures are sometimes known as anterior wedge fractures. When the vertebra crushes or collapses, it tends to collapse at the front. Spinal nerves are at each level and exit from the spinal cord through holes between the vertebrae known as foramen. They are stacked one on top of each other and are joined by facet joints and discs that sit in-between each vertebra. Many different tests can diagnose if you do indeed have one of these fractures.īones in the spine are known as vertebrae (plural). Common vertebrae affected are T11, T12, and L1.Īnterior wedge fractures are often called vertebral crush or vertebral compression fractures. The fracture typically occurs at the level between the upper and lower back, known as the thoraco-lumbar junction. In most cases, trauma has occurred and the majority of traumas involve a fall where person slips and lands on their backside. Rarely, the collapse can occur without explanation, with the sufferer having no recollection of a fall or trauma. If the spine is osteoporotic, there is thinning of the bone and even small traumas or falls might cause a collapse. Symptoms often include weakness and pain but can in rare cases cause nerve pains, tingling or incontinence.īy far the biggest contribution to wedge fractures is osteoporosis. The fracture can also be caused by cancer, osteoporosis and any number of other conditions. Anterior wedge fractures are fractures that occur when the vertebrae in the spine break down from some form of trauma.
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