2006 Nonoperative Treatment of Osteoporotic Compression Fractures eMedicine PMR

Description: Most of patients experiencing an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture remain asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic; however, a large number of these patients do experience significant pain resulting in decreased quality of life and disability. Conventional medical treatment for these patients includes pain medication, activity limitation, physical therapy, and possibly, bracing. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are two minimally invasive spine procedures that have emerged as viable treatments for those patients who do not respond to more conservative measures. Surgery for this population of patients is not well tolerated and is typically performed only as a last resort in severe cases.
Synonyms and related keywords:>/b> osteoporosis, back pain, osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, diminished bone density, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, wedge-shaped compression fractures, acquired kyphosis, general height loss, central crush fracture, bone density loss
Cooper, Lin & Lane 2006 Updated 2011