Trauma and Fractures

Trauma and Fractures

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Spine fractures caused by trauma--a sudden blow or injury to the vertebrae--can occur anywhere on the spine, including bones in the neck (cervical spine), bones in the upper back (thoracic spine), the lower back (lumbar spine) and the section of connected bone at the very bottom of the spinal column (sacrum). Car accidents, falls and sports injuries are examples of trauma that can cause spine fractures.

The first symptom of a broken bone is usually pain unless the spinal cord also has been injured, which can produce weakness, paralysis and/or lack of sensation. Depending on the location of the fracture, the damaged structures can injure the spinal cord or spinal nerves nerves that lead to pain in the arms or legs, or affect the bowel, bladder or sexual organs.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007