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A compression fracture occurs when an injury to a spinal bone (vertebra) causes it to fracture and collapse (compress). A weakened vertebra may collapse because of a minor injury or without an obvious injury, often as the result of osteoporosis.
When several vertebrae have been fractured, a person may lose height. Compression fractures may lead to a hump in the upper back (dowager's hump) and may cause back pain.
Treatment of compression fractures may include treating the osteoporosis with medicines and calcium and treating the pain with analgesics. Surgery may be needed if there is any loss of function because of bone pressing on the spinal cord or spinal nerves.
Current as of: November 9, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Donald Sproule MDCM, CCFP - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Robert B. Keller MD - Orthopedics & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
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