Spine Disorders
WHEN TO SEE A SPINE
SPECIALIST You should
seek the advice of a spine specialist if neck or back pain persists for more
than two weeks or if it is progressive in intensity and/or distribution. You
should seek immediate healthcare attention if neck or back pain occurs as the
result of an injury or if it is associated with serious illness and/or a high
fever. Additional signs and symptoms which warrant prompt medical attention
include:
SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS If you experience acute or persistent back
pain, or if you suspect a compression fracture, go to a physician. Only a
physician can diagnose a compression fracture. After a through personal and
family history the attending physican may order one or more of the following
diagnostic tests:
The physician may order a bone biopsy to
assess the tissue within the involved bone. This is often done if a physican
suspects cancer. PROGNOSIS Most spinal compression fractures which develop secondary to trauma will
heal in 8 - 10 weeks with proper care and rest. If a post-traumatic compression
fracture is severe, such as a burst fracture, displaced bone fragments
complicate the healing process and lengthen the recovery time. In general the recovery
time takes longer if surgery is performed. Slow developing (chronic) compression fractures associated with severe
thinning of the bone osteopenia/osteoporosis may not recover well at all
because the loss of bone density and the increased spacing between supportive
pillars within the bone (trabeculae) often have a poor prognosis without
invasive intervention to stabilize the vertebral body to prevent further
collapse of bone. The prognosis for a compression fractures caused by a tumor depends on the
type of tumor involved. A tumor may originate with vertebrae (primary tumor) or
it may spread to and develop within vertebrae, through a process called
metastasis. Some types of tumors that involve the spine include:
COMPLICATIONS The
complications associated with a spinal compression fracture include:
|