

When burst fractures are a result of major trauma, they are usually found as part of a patient’s evaluation in the emergency department of a hospital or medical center. If severe, this deformity will progress over time unless surgically corrected. When this occurs, the spine will tip forward and develop a deformity known as kyphosis. Following a burst fracture, the vertebrae collapse in the front more often than in the back, and develop a wedge shape. Burst fractures require immediate attention and treatment to prevent or minimize injury to the spinal cord.Īs a result of the impaired mechanical strength following a burst fracture, the spine may develop an abnormal angulation that can lead to pain or further neurological compromise. Potential for a spinal cord injury is high. Bone fragments can also be displaced into the spinal canal or foramen (exit route for an individual nerve root), leading to pressure on the nerves and compromised function. In general, a burst fracture represents a serious problem, since the vertebral body shatters with enough force to separate the bone fragments and compromise the vertebra’s ability to support the spine. There are a number of different classification schemes to describe burst fracture and help direct their treatment. Burst fractures account for 14% of all spinal injuries. In a burst fracture, the vertebral body shatters.Ī burst fracture usually results from significant trauma that compresses the bone, such as a motor vehicle accident or a severe fall. The vertebral body is the cylindrical shaped portion of the vertebral bone that lies in front and provides the majority of structural support.
#COMPRESSION FRACTURE OF LUMBAR SPINE SKIN#
You can feel the spinous process, a projection from this arch, when you press on the skin in the middle of your back.

The vertebral arch is a ring-shaped section that forms the roof of the spinal canal and protects the spinal cord. The bones of the spine have two main sections. A burst fracture is an injury in which the vertebra, the primary bone of the spine, breaks in multiple directions.
