Fragility fractures requiring special consideration: vertebral fractures.
The treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures is complicated because of the comorbid conditions of the elderly patient. Underlying osteoporosis leads to malalignment of the weakened bone and impedes fracture fixation. The treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures is widely empirical, because standardized and accepted treatment evidence-based concepts are missing for certain fracture types. As in other osteoporotic fractures in the elderly, the key for good outcome may be a combination of interdisciplinary treatment approaches and adapted surgical procedures. This article gives an overview of the underlying problems and possible treatment strategies for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in geriatric patients.
Department for Trauma Surgery and Sports Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: christian.kammerlander@uki.at.
Christian
C
Kammerlander
Department for Trauma Surgery and Sports Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Michael
M
Zegg
Department for Trauma Surgery and Sports Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Rene
R
Schmid
Department of Acute Geriatrics, State Hospital Hochzirl, Austria.
Markus
M
Gosch
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Thomas J
TJ
Luger
Department for Trauma Surgery and Sports Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Michael
M
Blauth
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*
Augmented instrumentation; Comorbidities; Elderly; Fracture treatment; Odontoid fracture; Osteoporotic fracture; Vertebral fracture