Condition Lookup

Cervical spine fractures

Symptoms:
neck pain; stiffness; reduced range of motion; tingling or numbness in arms; weakness; difficulty breathing; visible deformity or swelling in the neck

Root Cause:
A break or crack in one of the cervical vertebrae due to trauma (e.g., falls, car accidents, or sports injuries).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, X-rays, CT scans, MRI to assess the location and severity of the fracture.

Treatment:
Treatment depends on the severity and may include immobilization with cervical collars, halo devices, traction, or surgical stabilization using plates, screws, or spinal fusion.

Medications:
Pain management with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen , opioids for severe pain (e.g., morphine or oxycodone ), and muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine to alleviate spasms. Steroids (e.g., methylprednisolone ) may be prescribed to reduce spinal cord inflammation in certain cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Cervical fractures account for approximately 20% of spinal fractures and are more common in males due to high-risk activities.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-impact trauma, osteoporosis, advanced age, contact sports, motor vehicle accidents, and falls from height.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper treatment, many fractures heal without complications. However, severe fractures or spinal cord involvement may lead to permanent disability or paralysis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spinal cord injury, paralysis (quadriplegia), chronic pain, instability, nerve damage, or post-traumatic arthritis.

Thoracic spine fractures

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Spinal Fractures

Symptoms:
mid-back pain; stiffness; difficulty breathing; numbness or tingling in the legs; weakness in the lower extremities; possible paralysis below the chest area

Root Cause:
A fracture in the thoracic vertebrae caused by trauma, osteoporosis, or metastatic bone disease.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, neurological assessment, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to evaluate fracture severity and spinal cord involvement.

Treatment:
Mild fractures may require bracing and pain management, while severe cases may need spinal fusion or vertebroplasty. Rehabilitation is often necessary.

Medications:
NSAIDs for pain management (e.g., ibuprofen , naproxen ), opioids for severe pain (e.g., tramadol , morphine ), and calcium/vitamin D supplements for underlying osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate ) may be prescribed for bone strengthening.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Thoracic fractures make up about 35% of all spinal fractures and are common in older adults and trauma patients.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-impact injuries (e.g., car accidents, falls), osteoporosis, metastatic cancers, and high-energy sports injuries.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis varies with the severity of the fracture. Simple fractures heal well with treatment, but severe injuries with spinal cord involvement may lead to paralysis or chronic pain.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Spinal cord damage, paralysis (paraplegia), chronic pain, kyphosis (hunchback), and long-term disability.

Lumbar spine fractures

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Spinal and Back Injuries

Sub-category: Spinal Fractures

Symptoms:
lower back pain; stiffness; numbness or tingling in the legs; weakness in the lower limbs; loss of bowel or bladder control in severe cases; limited mobility

Root Cause:
A fracture in the lumbar vertebrae caused by trauma, compression (e.g., in osteoporosis), or metastatic bone disease.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, neurological evaluation, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to assess fracture severity and nerve involvement.

Treatment:
Conservative treatments include bracing and physical therapy for minor fractures. Severe cases may require kyphoplasty, spinal fusion, or decompression surgery.

Medications:
NSAIDs for pain relief (e.g., ibuprofen , diclofenac ), opioids for severe pain (e.g., hydrocodone , morphine ), and bone-modifying agents like teriparatide or bisphosphonates for osteoporosis-related fractures.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Lumbar fractures are the most common spinal fractures, especially in older adults with osteoporosis or those experiencing high-energy trauma.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Osteoporosis, trauma from falls or car accidents, repetitive stress, metastatic cancer, and physical overexertion.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most fractures heal well with conservative treatment, but severe injuries may result in chronic pain or permanent disability.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Nerve root compression, chronic pain, deformity, instability, or spinal stenosis.