COMPLEX SPINAL PAINREZA S. ROGHANI, MD, PhD

Advanced care guide

Vertebral compression fractures

A vertebral fracture may cause new focal back pain and warrants assessment of its cause and stability.

Evaluation comes first

Evaluation considers the onset of symptoms, trauma, bone health, examination, and imaging. MRI may help assess fracture acuity. Cancer, infection, and neurologic compromise need specific evaluation.

Treatment considerations

Many fractures are treated without augmentation. Selected patients with persistent pain attributable to a fracture may be evaluated for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Risks include cement leakage, bleeding, infection, and neurologic injury. Bone-health treatment remains important.

Questions for your clinician

Availability and suitability are determined during clinical evaluation. This page describes options, not an individual treatment recommendation.
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Further reading: Johns Hopkins kyphoplasty guide

A clearer path forward.

Begin with an individual evaluation of your pain and goals.

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