Spine injuries can range from pulled muscles to herniated disks to complex fractures and instability in the spine.

Soft-tissue injuries, such as damage to the muscles and the disks, are often the result of lifting injuries, low-energy falls (such as a tripping fall), or motor vehicle crashes. While these can lead to severe back and neck pain, most of these injuries will heal with time. Initial treatments often include physical therapy, chiropractic care, medications, and injections. In some cases, herniated disks may impinge on the nerves, causing arm or leg pain. In these cases, if non-operative care doesn’t help, Dr. Gebauer may suggest surgery as an option.

Fractures of the spine are much more complex and varied. These can be related to high-energy injuries, such as falls from height or high-speed motor vehicle crashes. In other cases, the bone may be weakened by osteoporosis or other conditions. In these cases, fractures may be the result of relatively low-energy injuries, such as a ground-level fall. • High-energy injuries are usually evaluated initially in the emergency room. If there is a risk to the nerves, surgery may be indicated. In other cases, fractures can be treated with a neck or back brace. These usually need to be used continuously for 6-8 weeks, with repeat x-rays or other imaging studies obtained periodically to ensure successful healing. • Low-energy fractures are often related to osteoporosis (thinning of the bone). This is a common condition that develops with age. While more common in women, it can also occur in men. Compression (wedge) fractures are a common type of injury seen with osteoporosis. These fractures are the result of the vertebra compressing down. These are stable injuries and not likely to cause injury to the nerves. However, they can be very painful. In many cases they can be treated with a back brace and by giving the fractures time to heal. However, in some cases, if the pain is severe or the fracture does not heal, a small procedure called a kyphoplasty can be considered. In this procedure, Dr. Gebauer injects a small amount of a bone cement into the vertebrae to stabilize the fracture and decrease pain.

Cervical (neck) • Neck Sprains and Strains - OrthoInfo - AAOS  • Cervical Fracture (Broken Neck) - OrthoInfo - AAOS 

Thoracic and Lumbar (mid and lower back) • Osteoporosis and Spinal Fractures - OrthoInfo - AAOS  • Fractures of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine - OrthoInfo - AAOS  • Osteoporosis - KnowYourBack - NASS 