Osteoporotic vertebral collapse with late neurological complications

Paraplegia. 1995 May;33(5):281-9. doi: 10.1038/sc.1995.64.

Abstract

This paper describes 27 patients who had a spinal fracture and underwent an anterior or a posterior spinal decompression, with or without spinal instrumentation, for late neurological compromise secondary to post-traumatic vertebral collapse associated with osteoporosis. Five males and 22 females were studied, with an average follow-up of 3.7 years. The patients developed delayed neurological compromise due to osteoporotic vertebral collapse 1 month to 1.5 years following insignificant spinal fractures. Abnormal hypermobility at the collapsed spinal level with gradual retropulsion of fracture fragments into the spinal canal appeared to contribute to late paralysis. This pathology is treated surgically either anteriorly or posteriorly, but we recommend transpedicular posterolateral decompression and stabilization with a screw-rod construct because of technical ease and minimum invasion.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / surgery
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Osteoporosis / complications*
  • Osteoporosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoporosis / surgery
  • Paralysis / diagnostic imaging
  • Paralysis / etiology
  • Radiography
  • Spinal Cord Compression / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Cord Compression / etiology*
  • Spinal Cord Compression / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome