15 Common Causes of Compression Fracture

A compression fracture describes a common type of fracture of the spine, which can be sustained either as a result of a sudden and traumatic injury to the spine or due to other long-term factors over a longer period of time, such as arthritis and other health conditions such as scoliosis. Compression fractures are very common ones, and emergency rooms see at least a few hundred compression fracture injuries every year – of course, the number of cases would be higher if all instances of compression fractures were diagnosed and recorded.

Symptoms of a compression fracture include pain in the neck and back, associated pain and swelling as well as a reduction in height, which happens due to damage to the spinal disks. 

Here are 8 common causes of a compression fracture that you should know about.

1. Degeneration Associated with Age

The majority of people out there can imagine at least one older or elderly person whom they swear gets a little shorter every year – and its not imagination, but instead the fact that compression fractures are very commonly seen in older people. As we age, the building material that our bodies are made out of will degrade over time – and just like any other structure on earth, things start to crumble.

The degeneration associated with age is one of the most common causes of a compression fracture, and is usually diagnosed later in life; there are many health conditions that can be diagnosed with this, including arthritis, which can make compression fractures a more likely possible event.

This shouldn’t be taken to mean that compression fractures are only a problem for older people since they can occur in anyone regardless of age depending on a variety of factors (including underlying degenerative conditions).