Spinal fractures caused by accidents can feel physically and emotionally overwhelming. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, approximately 17,900 new spinal cord injuries occur annually in the U.S., with vehicle accidents a leading cause. It significantly impacts your mobility and overall quality of life, whether from a car crash, a fall, or a sports injury.
You deserve a chance to heal, but is spine surgery the right move? Consulting a spine specialist in New York can help you decide on the best spinal fracture treatment plan.
What Are Spinal Fractures?
A spinal fracture occurs when vertebrae in your cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), or lumbar (lower back) regions break or collapse, typically due to trauma or high-impact accidents. The severity ranges from cracks that heal independently to shattered connections that require surgery.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that falls account for nearly 35% of all spinal cord injuries, particularly among older adults. High-impact contact sports, such as football and gymnastics, also risk spinal compression fractures. The National Osteoporosis Foundation also links osteoporosis to fractures, even with minor falls, as osteoporosis affects over 10 million Americans.
Types of Spinal Fractures
Identifying the type of spinal fracture helps determine whether you need surgery. Here are common fracture examples:
Compression Fractures
Compression collapses the front of a vertebra, often due to excessive pressure. These collapses are common in individuals with osteoporosis or impact trauma, who then experience significant pain and often require surgical intervention. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates about 1.5 million vertebral compression fractures occur every year in the United States alone from an osteoporosis-related injury.
Burst Fractures
A burst fracture happens when the vertebra breaks into multiple fragments. This type of fracture can be dangerous if bone fragments spread and cause spinal cord damage.
Flexion-Distraction Fractures
When forces pull apart vertebrae, spinal fracture follows. It’s commonly seen in car accidents where a seatbelt restrains the lower body while the upper body launches forward.
Fracture-Dislocations
As the name suggests, a fracture-dislocation involves a vertebral fracture and misalignment. Trauma-induced breaks are highly unstable, which is why surgical intervention becomes urgent.
When Is Surgery Necessary for Spinal Compression Fracture?
Not all spinal fractures require surgery. Many heal with conservative treatments like bracing, pain management, and physical therapy. However, spine surgery might benefit you in the following cases:
- Spinal instability: If your spine cannot maintain proper alignment, it needs immediate surgical stabilization.
- Neurological symptoms: If your fracture compresses the spinal cord or a nerve, you’ll experience numbness, weakness, or incontinence. If so, surgery will be essential.
- Severe deformity: Has your spinal fracture caused significant misalignment? Surgery could restore stability.
When non-surgical bracing and other treatments don’t work, surgery could relieve pain and restore mobility.
Some Spinal Fracture Treatment‘s Surgical Options
The surgical procedures your medical team recommends will differ with your spinal fracture’s severity and location. Here are a few options spine surgeons can offer:
Kyphoplasty & Vertebroplasty
These minimally invasive procedures inject bone cement into the fractured vertebra to restore height and stability. Kyphoplasty involves balloon inflation before the cement.
Spinal Fusion
Surgeons use spinal fusion for stability. It joins two or more vertebrae together using bone grafts, screws, and rods to prevent excessive movement that could worsen your injury.
Vertebral Body Replacement
Is a vertebra severely damaged? Surgery could replace it with an artificial implant.
Laminectomy
Laminectomies remove part of the vertebra (lamina) to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. This is a go-to surgery when your fracture causes painful nerve compression.
Seek Expert Care From Our NY Spine Specialist
If you or a loved one has experienced a spinal injury, please don’t wait to consult a spine surgeon in New York. Accident-related spinal fractures have serious consequences.
At New York Spine Specialist, we emphasize that understanding degenerative disc disease surgery and similar treatments helps us find the best long-term solutions for your chronic pain or mobility issues. Call us today at 516-355-0111 to learn more!
Doctors listed in our directory accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
FAQs
Have questions? Our NY spine specialists have answers!
Can Spinal Fractures Heal Without Surgery?
Yes, stable spinal fractures can often heal with bracing, rest, and physical therapy instead of surgery. Severe or unstable fractures aren’t so resilient.
How Long Does Recovery Take After Spinal Fracture Surgery?
Recovery can take several weeks to months after surgery. The type of surgery and individual healing factors affect this timeline.
What Happens If a Spinal Fracture Is Left Untreated?
Untreated fractures mean chronic pain, spinal deformity, and even neurological complications. Affected spinal cords need treatment.