Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) occur when a vertebral body collapses, most often due to osteoporosis.
Key Statistics
- ~750,000 osteoporotic VCFs per year in the U.S. — the most common osteoporotic fracture
- 1 in 4 women over 50 and 1 in 8 men over 50 will experience a VCF in their lifetime
- One VCF increases the risk of a second fracture 5-fold within 1 year
- VCFs are associated with 23% increased 5-year mortality in older adults
- Kyphoplasty provides pain relief in 85–95% of patients within 24–72 hours
Symptoms
- Sudden severe mid- or low-back pain, often after minor activity
- Pain worse with standing or walking, improved by lying down
- Loss of height (>1 inch)
- Progressive thoracic kyphosis ("dowager's hump")
- Reduced lung capacity in severe multi-level cases
Treatment
- Conservative: bracing, pain control, osteoporosis pharmacotherapy
- Vertebroplasty / Kyphoplasty: minimally invasive cement augmentation, typically 30–45 min outpatient procedure
- Posterior instrumented fusion for unstable burst fractures or neurologic compromise
- Bone health optimization: vitamin D, calcium, bisphosphonates, DEXA monitoring
Common Symptoms
- Sudden back pain
- Pain worse with standing
- Loss of height
- Stooped posture
- Limited mobility
- Tenderness over spine
Treatment Options
Kyphoplasty
Vertebroplasty
Bracing
Osteoporosis management
Posterior instrumented fusion for unstable fractures
Dr. Jerry Walters II
Board-Certified Neurosurgeon
Providing expert vertebral compression fracture treatment at Nova Brain and Spine of GA in Hampton, Georgia. Serving patients throughout Southern Georgia and the Atlanta metro area.