Common among those over 50, osteoporosis considerably increases the risk of vertebral fractures. Explanations with Professor Karine Briot, rheumatologist.
- Osteoporosis is a bone disease that increases the risk of fracture.
- The term vertebral compression is often used incorrectly to refer to an osteoporotic vertebral fracture.
- It is impossible to be paralyzed following an osteoporotic vertebral fracture.
Osteoporosis is characterized by a reduction in bone mass and a degradation of the structure of the tissue that composes it. Due to the fragility of the bones, this skeletal disease significantly increases the risk of fractures. Every year, nearly 490,000 fractures linked to osteoporosis occur in France, according to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).
The term vertebral compression is often used incorrectly to refer to an osteoporotic vertebral fracture. “This name is no longer correct, because for some, it does not mean that there is a fracture, so no osteoporosis screening is organized. We tell ourselves that it is normal to settle down with the “age when it is a real fracture of the vertebra, which requires screening and treatment for osteoporosis. This term must be banned”explains Professor Karine Briot, rheumatologist, specialist in osteoporosis and its explorations, at Cochin hospital in Paris.
What are the differences between an osteoporotic vertebral fracture and a traumatic fracture?
From the age of 50, mild to moderate trauma, apart from road accidents, can cause an osteoporotic vertebral fracture. A fracture linked to osteoporosis corresponds to a fall in height.
In 75% of cases, an osteoporotic vertebral fracture goes unnoticed, because it has very few symptoms. The person may have some pain, but this is often attributed to osteoarthritis. Generally, the patient discovers the fracture during an x-ray indicated for another cause. This fracture can, however, cause intense pain, which will prompt you to consult your doctor quickly.
Osteoporotic vertebral fracture: is there a risk of paralysis?
As Professor Karine Briot indicates, patients often fear being paralyzed after an osteoporotic injury. “Paralysis is, however, impossible. The fracture concerns the vertebral body, that is to say the part in front of the vertebra, which is at a distance from the nerves or the spinal cord. In addition, the posterior wall of the vertebra protects it in the context of a fracture”, she noted. There may be damage to the posterior wall in a secondary fracture due to cancer or trauma, but this is not the case for osteoporosis.
If an osteoporotic vertebral fracture is suspected, the doctor performs an x-ray with a minimal biological assessment, which allows other potential causes to be ruled out. Bone densitometry, a test that measures bone density, may also be performed. If the diagnosis of osteoporotic fracture is confirmed, drug treatment is indicated.
