Back

My wife has just been hospitalized with a burst compression fracture. There is some neurologic damage and deterioration. They are planning to operate. What are the changes of recovery from the paralysis?

Patients who are admitted to the hospital and operated on within 24 hours have a good chance of improvement in neurologic function. Studies show that many patients regain full function. This is more likely to happen if the person had an incomplete neurologic lesion (partial, not complete, paralysis).

Results may depend on the condition of the bone. Many older adults have osteoporosis (brittle bones) that cause the compression fracture in the first place. There may be further complications if the surgeon can't find strong enough bone to support wires or screws.

If the long ligament down the spine was not ruptured at the time of the fracture, the risk of damage to the spinal cord is less. Other problems that can interfere with recovery include infection, diabetes mellitus, or pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lungs).

Final results after surgery may take some time. Many patients continue to experience signs of recovery up to six months after the procedure. Your surgeon and neurologist may be able to offer you a more realistic prognosis based on what they saw during the operation.

Don't be afraid to ask for more information. But be prepared for a wait-and-see response. It isn't always possible to know what will happen with neurologic damage after compression fractures.

« Back