Spine
Thoracic Spine Fracture
Spinal fractures vary widely in their severity. Some fractures require emergency treatment. Other fractures can be the result of bones weakened by osteoporosis.
Symptoms
A fracture of the thoracic spine causes moderate to severe back pain that is worsened with movement. If the spinal cord is involved, you may experience bowel or bladder dysfunction and numbness or weakness in your limbs. If the fracture is caused by trauma such as a car accident, you may also have a brain injury and lose consciousness. If there are other injuries, doctors will assume you have suffered a fracture and treat accordingly.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the severity of the fracture and whether the patient has other associated injuries. Once the trauma team has stabilized all other life-threatening injuries, the doctor will evaluate the spinal fracture pattern and decide whether spine surgery is needed.