Spinal fracture

A fracture of a vertebra can be due to trauma, osteoporosis or a tumor invading the bone.

The compressive force of a traumatic injury is able to immediately fracture the vertebra (usually causing a “burst” or a “compression” fracture).

Osteoporosis and tumors destroy the bone matrix, eventually weakening the bone to the point of collapse under normal body weight or by a fall from standing height.