Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF)
Vertebral Compression Fractures (VCFs) are common spinal injuries where one or more vertebral bodies collapse, most frequently due to osteoporosis, trauma, or metastatic disease.
🧠 Etiology and Risk Factors
<folded>Expand to see causes and risk factors</folded>
- Osteoporosis (most common)
- Trauma (e.g. fall, accident)
- Metastatic lesions
- Long-term corticosteroid use
- Pathologic bone conditions (e.g. myeloma)
📸 Clinical Presentation
- Sudden onset of back pain, often after minimal trauma
- Localized tenderness over spinous processes
- Kyphotic posture or loss of height
- In some cases, neurological symptoms (if canal is compromised)
🧪 Diagnosis
- X-ray: Wedge-shaped vertebral body
- MRI: Edema in acute fractures; rules out malignancy
- CT scan: Fracture detail and posterior wall integrity
- Bone scan: Differentiates old vs new fractures
🩺 Management Options
<folded>Expand to view treatment approaches</folded> Conservative:
- Pain control (analgesics)
- Activity modification
- Bracing (TLSO brace)
- Physical therapy
Interventional:
- Vertebroplasty
- Balloon kyphoplasty → See procedure details
Surgical (rare):
- Indicated in unstable or neurologically compromised fractures
📊 Prognosis
- Good prognosis in osteoporotic fractures with early treatment
- Risk of future VCFs increases after first fracture
- Chronic pain or spinal deformity may persist if not treated
🔄 Follow-Up
- Monitor for new fractures
- Treat underlying osteoporosis or malignancy
- Encourage bone health (calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates)