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Treating osteoporotic fractures of the spine.

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Treating osteoporotic fractures of the spine

Several options, from pills to procedures, can help ease pain and shore up bone.

More than 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures occur each year in the United States, and nearly half of them are in the vertebrae, the bones of the spinal column. Vertebral fractures are twice as common as hip fractures; about 25% of postmenopausal women have had at least one. Unlike hip fractures, which almost always result from a fall, vertebral fractures usually involve little or no trauma. Vertebrae weakened by osteoporosis cannot withstand normal strain and pressure, so they may succumb to simple movement * bending over, turning quickly, or lifting a window sash.

About two-thirds of vertebral fractures have no symptoms and may go undiagnosed until they're found on an x-ray taken for some other reason. A single fracture may seem of little consequence, but having had one has long-term implications, including a higher risk of new fractures. In a study published in 2007 in The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers for the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures found that women with a history of vertebral fracture had a fourfold greater risk of experiencing a new one during the 15-year follow-up. They also had a higher risk for other broken bones, especially hip fractures.

The cumulative effect of multiple fractures can be devastating. Chronic pain, disability, and difficulty engaging in normal activities of daily life can lead to isolation, problems with relationships, and emotional difficulties * including depression, which develops in 40% of people with vertebral fractures. Vertebral fractures also raise the risk of premature death, though not to the degree that hip fractures do.

As the population ages, the rate of osteoporotic fractures in general is expected to rise. Fortunately, we have...