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Spinal compression fractures are breaks in the bones of the spinal column, also called the vertebrae. These breaks occur when small hairline cracks build up in the bones of the spine and weaken them, causing loss of stability, pain, and immobility. If these cracks become severe enough, the entire bone may collapse.
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Too much pressure can break the vertebrae — the bones that make up the spine. Fractured vertebrae can cause pain. Eventually, the bones can collapse.
This collapse is a spinal compression fracture.
Spinal compression fractures are also known as vertebral compression fractures. They are more common in older people. Osteoporosis, which causes bone density loss, is the most frequent underlying cause of these fractures.
Even with moderate osteoporosis, people can fracture their spines just by tripping or trying to lift heavy objects. In advanced cases, movements as small as coughing or sneezing can cause a fracture.
In most cases, the tiny fractures alter the spine's strength and shape, leading to a loss of height. This compression of the spine due to osteoporosis is why some women seem to shrink as they get older. Women are more likely than men to have bone density loss as they age.
Most of these small breaks happen in the anterior (front) of the spinal bones. If there are many breaks, the front part of the bone may collapse.
Spinal compression fractures may occur in the thoracic (upper) spine in bones T1 through T12 or in the lumbar spine (low back) in lumbar bones L1 through L5.
Sometimes, people think the pain caused by spinal fractures is a normal part of aging, so they do not get help for it. But doctors can treat these breaks in the spinal bones, reducing pain and the likelihood it will get worse.
Doctors classify compression fractures in three ways:
Osteoporosis is the leading cause of spinal compression fractures. Osteoporosis is when the body's bones lose minerals and become less dense and strong. It happens most often in older women after they have gone through menopause.
Osteoporosis weakens the bones, making them more likely to break. It can cause them to collapse and become misshapen. They may then shift out of place. These injuries are painful and can cause loss of height and a hump.
Spinal compression fractures can also happen after trauma from a severe accident. They are also sometimes due to bone cancer if tumors weaken the spinal bones.
Other causes include chemotherapy treatment, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), infection, prolonged corticosteroid use, and radiation treatment.
The causes of bone density loss include:
Those at greatest risk for compression fractures are postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Other risk factors include:
People with spinal compression fractures have back pain. Long-term treatment with pain medicines, such as naproxen sodium or ibuprofen, can cause gastrointestinal bleeds and ulcers. The use of opioids to manage pain can lead to addiction and altered cognitive status.
If left untreated, spinal compression fractures can lead to kyphosis, a deformity or curvature in the upper spine, further spinal degeneration, and pain.
Pain can lead to limited mobility, which brings a host of other problems, including:
Life expectancy after a compression fracture depends on your overall health, the severity of the fracture, and whether your treatment is effective. A compression fracture will not directly shorten your life expectancy, its indirect effects can.
You have a higher risk of dying after a compression fracture if you are older, male, or have had cancer.
One way to reduce your risk of spinal compression fractures is to try to maintain bone mass. This is important throughout your lifetime, but especially in your early postmenopausal years.
Ways to do that include:
For those who have suffered a fracture, the best way to avoid them in the future is to follow your doctor's advice to raise your chance of optimal outcomes and prevent adverse consequences.
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 1.5 million vertebral compression fractures occur in the U.S. each year. Approximately 25% of postmenopausal women will sustain a compression fracture in their lifetimes.
Symptoms of spinal compression fractures may include:
The pain of spinal compression fractures may get better as the bone heals, but it may not. Some people will continue to feel pain after the fracture has healed.
However, not everyone with a spinal fracture feels back pain. Some people may feel pain in their abdomen due to the shifting spine squeezing the internal organs. Others may feel little or no pain from a fracture.
Talk to a doctor about back pain if:
Any of these can indicate that the back injury is impacting your spinal cord.
Doctors diagnose a spinal compression fracture with a physical exam. They will ask about pain and other symptoms.
They will order imaging studies to see what has happened to the spine. These typically include x-rays, CT scans or MRIs. They may order a bone biopsy if they suspect bone cancer.
The best spinal compression fracture treatment for you varies based on the injury's cause, location, and severity.
Doctors treat most spinal compression fractures with:
Most spinal compression fractures heal in two to three months. It may take up to a year to fully heal a fracture if you have osteoporosis.
Surgery is another option for treating spinal compression fractures. Doctors may suggest surgery only after nonsurgical treatments have failed to provide pain relief, increased mobility, or improved quality of life.
Surgical treatments include various types of advanced minimally invasive surgery, such as vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Minimally invasive spine surgery uses advanced techniques and technology. Surgeons can treat the spine without damaging nearby soft tissues, leading to faster recovery.
Most people who get these surgeries go home the same day or after one night in the hospital.
UPMC spine care experts are experienced at providing surgical and nonsurgical care for spinal compression fractures. Our team also provides comprehensive spine care for people diagnosed with osteoporosis to prevent future spine fractures and improve overall health.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-05-16.
