Types of Imaging Tests for Diagnosis of Spinal Fracture

Traumatic events such as car accidents or a fall from a significantly high building may result in a fracture of your spine. As you advance in age, degenerative changes occur on your spine. You may also develop health conditions such as osteoporosis which weaken your bones. As a result, low-impact activities such as bending may cause a spinal fracture. You may not experience pain if you have a spinal fracture. However, a medical examination at Balanced Pain Management for spine fractures in Walnut Creek can help establish types of damages on your spinal cord.

Symptoms of a spinal fracture

The severity of spinal fracture symptoms may vary depending on the type of fracture you may have. General symptoms may include:

• Numbness and tingling on your hands and legs
• A feeling of weakness in your legs and hands.
• Bladder problems
• Neck pain

Types of spinal fracture

Axial burst fracture

Severe trauma resulting from a car accident may exert a lot of pressure and crush your vertebra in multiple places. This causes fragments of your bone to spread out and cause spinal injury.

Compression fracture

Diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis may make your bones weak. Your vertebra, in this case, cannot withstand a lot of pressure. Sudden force may result in a fracture of the spine. Other times the front part of the vertebra may collapse, forming a wedge shape. This is referred to as a wedge fracture.

Flexion-distraction fracture

The spine is naturally made to flex forward. However, a lot of force on your spine may bend the middle and posterior column. You may experience this type of fracture when you get an injury from a high-impact sport.

Diagnosis for a spinal fracture

The examination enables your doctor to determine the type of fracture you might be having. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam.

• Your doctor will ask if you are experiencing any pain.
• A review of your past and current medical history may act as a guide during treatment.
• Your specialist may test your range of motion by asking you to move your back and establish the points that may be a source of pain.
• In case of nerve damage, your doctor may conduct a neurological exam to evaluate your muscle strength and check whether pain in your spine travels to other parts of your body.

Imaging tests provide a detailed and more precise picture of your vertebrae. Examples include:

• X-ray. Your doctor may use this test to check for any changes in the shape and size of your vertebra. This test involves the use of low radiation to create spinal images.
• CT scan. This imaging test provides a more detailed image of spine compression fracture and enables your doctor to examine your spine from different angles and analyze the fracture pattern.
• Magnetic resonance imaging. This test enables your doctor to see images of the nerves near your spine, which a compression fracture may injure. Your specialist may use this test to distinguish between an old fracture and one that is currently healing. This test may also show other conditions in your spine like an infection or the presence of a tumor.

Reserve a session with your specialist at Balanced Pain Management for more information on treatment methods for spinal fracture.