⸺Osteoporosis⸺

Bone fractures caused by osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder of the bones, which become porous and break easily. With severe osteoporosis of the spine, vertebral fractures can be caused by a trip or a slight fall on the buttocks.

⸻ Osteoporosis

Typical complaints

Osteoporosis has many causes. It is influenced by genetic, hormonal and mechanical factors, but also by weight and diet. In the UK, at least six million people are living with this diagnosis. It mainly affects older people. More than 80% of all fractures in patients over the age of 50 in Western society are caused by osteoporosis. However, most of the affected patients with spinal fractures and osteoporosis have not yet been diagnosed with osteoporosis. 

Typical symptoms of osteoporosis are back pain as a result of an accident or a slight fall, as well as when 'lifting'. If one vertebra fractures and remains in the wrong position after the fracture without correction, the adjacent vertebrae are further strained. The wrong position often leads to a forward tilt of the torso and leads to the formation of a hump in older people. The formation of a hump, the lack of stability of the spine and the general imbalance of the body also leads to increased use of force during everyday activities, rapid fatigue and thus to decreased mobility in affected older people. Particularly striking is a rapid loss of body size.

1. Healthy bone

2. Osteopenia

3. Osteoporosis

Conservative treatment

Initially, osteoporosis and an osteoporotic vertebral fracture are treated with medications: for example, specific osteoporosis drugs and painkillers are used. Several effective medications can reduce the risk of further vertebral fractures by 30 to 70 percent when taken regularly. Preventive measures are particularly important to prevent further fractures:

These include

  • a balanced diet (dairy products, calcium and vitamin D-rich products)

  • Sufficient sleep

  • regular exercise and sunlight

  • Restriction of coffee enjoyment

  • Nicotine and alcohol abstinence

After a vertebral fracture in elderly patients under medical pain treatment and accompanying physiotherapy after an initial period of rest, the goal should be rapid mobilization.

Surgical therapy

If conservative therapy is not enough to treat the severe pain, modern, minimally invasive procedures (such as balloon kyphoplasty) are available, which can be used to straighten a sunken vertebra, for example. In the case of severe malposition, and even if several sections are affected, the spine can be stabilized by screws and rods. Again, minimally invasive techniques are used and allow surgery even in elderly patients.

Treatment example balloon kyphoplasty