Burst fractures occur as a result of a compressive load down through the spine. The vertebra shatters into tiny pieces. Bone fragments can get lodged into nearby tissues, including the spinal canal and the spinal cord inside the canal.
Burst fractures are most often caused by car accidents or by falls. Burst fractures are categorized by the severity of the fracture (how much of the bone was splintered into tiny pieces), displacement (how much the pieces have moved or separated, and kyphotic deformity (how much the vertebral bone has collapsed).
The loss of vertebral body height, and (the amount of neurologic deficit, and presence of spinal deformity are all important factors in whether or not these injuries are unstable.
Once the fracture site has been reduced (bones put back in proper alignment), bed rest is a standard treatment approach. The body must be given time for the bone to heal. Under the best of circumstances, bone healing usually takes six to eight weeks. X-rays and CT scans will be used to observe how the bone is coming along.
Some patients are up and moving in as little as two weeks. Most are on bedrest for six to eight weeks. This time period is followed by another three to six months wearing a body cast or brace. Rehab and recovery are also affected by factors such as the use of tobacco products (which can delay healing), good nutrition (which can speed up healing), age (older age has a worse prognosis), and the success of the initial program to restore bone alignment.
But the good news is that studies show a very favorable response to treatment with some 90 per cent (or more) success rate. Highly unstable fractures can be treated surgically if conservative care is unsuccessful in reducing pain and stabilizing the spine.