Spine Case 8 Background

Compression fractures occur in both traumatic and non-traumatic settings. Traumatic injuries can occur from seemingly mild falls in the elderly patient with osteoporosis. For younger healthy patients to sustain compression fractures, the mechanism is usually more impressive such as a fall from a height or an MVC. Wedge fractures are caused by an axially directed central force. Patients with osteoporosis, bone malignancy, or bone infections (i.e. osteomyelitis, Pott's disease) can suffer compression fractures without traumatic mechanism.