Treatment of Spinal Fractures: Reliable Recovery and Return to Life

The diagnosis of “spinal fracture” sounds frightening and is often associated with the fear of paralysis or lifelong disability. However, modern medicine has made tremendous strides. Today, most fractures are successfully treated, allowing the patient to return to a full, active life.

Specialists from the Department of Vertebrology and Neurosurgery at St. Luke’s Clinic (Banchery village) provide qualified assistance for spinal fractures of any complexity. We use both conservative methods and the most modern minimally invasive surgical technologies that get the patient back on their feet the day after the operation.

What types of spinal fractures are there?

Treatment tactics fundamentally depend on the cause of the injury and the patient’s age. All vertebral fractures are divided into two large groups:

1. Traumatic Fractures

Occur in healthy people due to powerful physical impact: car accidents, falls from height, sports injuries, severe direct impact, or “diving” in shallow water (cervical spine injury). Such fractures are often complicated (with displacement of fragments that press on the spinal cord).

2. Pathological (Osteoporotic) Compression Fractures

This is a “silent epidemic” among older people (especially women after menopause). Due to osteoporosis, bones become brittle, like a sponge. In such a state, a vertebra can break (flatten) not from a fall, but simply from a sudden bend, lifting a heavy bag, a strong cough, or even under the weight of one’s own body.

Main symptom: sudden or chronic unbearable back pain that worsens when trying to stand up or change body position. Many elderly people endure this pain for months, thinking it’s just “radiculitis”.

Accurate Diagnosis — The First Step to Recovery

If a spinal fracture is suspected, self-treatment, visiting manual therapists (“bone setters”), or getting massages are strictly prohibited! This can lead to irreversible spinal cord damage.

At St. Luke’s Clinic, diagnosis is performed using the most modern equipment: X-rays, CT (computed tomography), and MRI. This allows doctors to see not only the bone itself but also to assess the condition of the nerves and spinal cord.

How do we treat spinal fractures?

Conservative Treatment (without surgery)

Applied for stable uncomplicated fractures (when there is no threat to the spinal cord). The patient is prescribed strict bed rest, pain medications, and mandatory wearing of a rigid orthopedic corset (2 to 4 months) to fix the spine until the bone heals.

Minimally Invasive Surgery: Vertebroplasty (Bone Cement)

This is a true miracle of modern medicine for elderly people with compression fractures due to osteoporosis.

• No incisions: The procedure is performed through a skin puncture with a thick needle under X-ray guidance.
• Method essence: The surgeon injects a special medical “bone cement” into the fractured vertebra. It hardens in 15 minutes, instantly strengthening the vertebra and restoring its height.
• Immediate effect: The pain that tormented the person for weeks disappears almost immediately. Already 2-3 hours after the procedure, the patient can stand up and walk independently! General anesthesia is not required (the procedure is performed under local anesthesia and sedation).

Surgical Stabilization (Transpedicular Fixation)

If the fracture is severe, unstable, or there is a threat of spinal cord damage (injuries after a car accident), neurosurgeons perform a stabilizing operation.

The fractured vertebrae are fastened together using a reliable structure of titanium screws and rods. This “freezes” the damaged area, preventing fragments from shifting, and allows the patient to begin early rehabilitation (sitting and walking) without risk to the spinal cord.

Rehabilitation after Injury

A successful operation is only half the battle. St. Luke’s Clinic has a team of experienced physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) doctors. We develop individual recovery programs that include therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, and massages to strengthen the muscular corset and return you to your usual life as quickly as possible.

Back pain after an injury or fall requires immediate attention from specialists. Entrust your health and mobility to the expert vertebrologists at St. Luke’s Clinic.