If You Step on a Crack Will You Break Your Mama's Back? The Real Reason Behind Spinal Fractures

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Just this past weekend, I had the privilege of spending time with my 105-year-old grandmother. Still a kick in the pants, she claims her secret to longevity is a lifetime of exercise and “eating anything and everything.” While some nutrition experts may be cringe at that last part of her statement, I see how it has attributed to my grandmother’s long life, so I think I might subscribe to her philosophy.

Grandma truly has no ailments. She commented that her primary care physician gave her a clean bill of health last month. “There is nothing wrong with you, Kora,” he told her. To which she promptly replied, “Well, now, there has to be, because I am still here!”

The only physical degeneration I have seen in my grandmother over the past few years is the gradual compression of her spinal column, causing her to lose a few inches in stature. While a normal spine has 33 vertebrae, she claims she has lost a few, as she went from 5 foot 5 inches tall to just below four feet tall. She has experienced some spinal compression fractures, yet fortunately does not have any associated pain with these. This led me to do some research on spinal fractures as a whole and how they affect a person.

Spinal fractures are different than a broken arm or leg. When a vertebra in the spine is broken or dislocated, it can cause bone fragments to pinch and damage the spinal nerves or spinal cord. The most common cause of such a fracture is a car accident, a fall, a gunshot wound, or a sports injury. (Thankfully, Grandma does not drive anymore, she is not on any sports team, which I know of, and she does not own a hand gun. As for falling, well, that is her most likely opponent.)

Depending upon the severity of the injury, you may notice pain, trouble with walking, or an inability to move your arms or legs. Many fractures can be healed with conservative measures, but the more severe fractures may require an invasive approach to realign the bones.

While spinal fractures can occur anywhere along the spine, five to ten percent of them occur in the neck region, also known as the cervical region. A whopping 64 percent occur in the lower back area.

When more pressure is put upon a bone that it can withstand, it will break. The most common type of fracture seen in the spine is a vertebral body compression fracture. A sudden, downward force can shatter and collapse the body of the vertebrae. With enough force against it, bone fragments can be sent into the spinal canal, referred to as a burst fracture.

Those who have osteoporosis, tumors, or certain types of cancer that contribute to weakened bones are prone to sustaining vertebral compression fractures. With multiple fractures such as these, the spine can be forced into a forward hunch called kyphosis. (And all along I simply thought that Grandma was bowing down in reverence to me!)

The spine can become dislocated when the ligaments and/or discs that connect two vertebrae become stretched or torn, causing a misalignment of the spine. A fracture-dislocation happens when the both the bone is broken and the ligament is torn. This is the worst type of fracture to the spine, and surgical intervention is usually necessary to fix it.

Among the other symptoms of a spinal fracture are back or neck pain, tingling, numbness, muscle spasms, weakness, changes in the bowel or bladder functions, and paralysis. Eighty percent of affected individuals are in the 18 to 25 year age range. Men are four times more likely to experience a significant spinal fracture than women.

Common diagnostic tests to assess an injury of this nature include an X-ray, used to view the bony vertebrae in the spine and determine any fractures. A computed tomography scan, also known as a CT scan, is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that uses both an X-ray beam and a computer to make a 2-D image of the spine. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is also a noninvasive test that combines the use of a magnetic filed and radio frequency waves to give a more detailed view of the spine, including the soft tissues.

Initial treatment of a spinal fracture begins with the focus on pain management. The doctor may prescribe the use of braces or orthotics to maintain spinal alignment, to keep your spine immobile while it heals, and to control the pain by restricting your movement.

Two surgical procedures designed to treat unstable fractures include instrumentation and fusion. With the fusion approach, two vertebrae or joined together with a bone graft held together with plates, rods, screws, or hooks. It can take up to several months to create such a fusion of bone.

Or, perhaps you can just stick to a diet of eating anything and everything to keep yourself fit and healthy!* Besides, what’s a few compressed vertebrae when you still have your mind, a very healthy body, and the ability to tell people at 105 years of age, “When I get old….”

*Not necessarily recommended for everyone! It seems to have worked mostly in the favor of Grandma!

(Information for this article was found at http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/pe-spinefract.htm and at Grandma’s house this past weekend!)

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