Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves incomplete development of spinal cord or its coverings. It occurs in 1^st month of pregnancy when baby’s spine fails to close properly.

Osteoporosis can be present without any symptoms for decades because osteoporosis doesn’t cause symptoms until bone fractures. Moreover, some osteoporotic fractures may escape detection for years when they do not cause symptoms. Therefore, patients may not be aware of their osteoporosis until they suffer a painful fracture.

Fracture of the spine vertebra can cause severe back pain. Over the years, repeated spinal fractures and collapse can lead to chronic back pain with loss of height or curving of the spine.

Once a person has experienced a spine fracture due to osteoporosis, he or she is at very high risk of suffering another such fracture in the near future (next few years). Women after menopause have more chances of fracture (as female require estrogen hormones for maintaining bone strength and this becomes less after menopause).

Lifestyle change- Quit smoking / avoid excessive alcohol / consuming a balance diet along with adequate calcium and vitamin D.

Medication  -which can stop bone loss

-which can increase bone formation

Patient (usually elderly) presenting with severe back pain (rarely neck pain if cervical spine is involved) esp on movements. To confirm X- ray and MRI usually required. MRI not only shows fracture collapse but also shows if any fracture piece has shifted  near the spinal cord or dangerously pinching the spinal cord. This should be urgently brought in notice to a neurosurgeon inorder to avoid paralysis of the legs. But some unfortunate patients develop  severe weakness or paralysis then come to neurosurgeon .

VERTEBROPLASTY: If  MRI shows spine (vertebra) fracture but no cord compression (i.e.,

with any weakness or numbness of arms and legs) – then a simple procedure like vertebroplasty can be performed for getting rid from local pain or endanger from further collapse and paralysis. This involves injection of bone cement in the spine bone and thus permanently strengthening it. It is very safe procedure and mostly gives unbelievably fabulous results.

If there is weakness of legs due to spinal cord compression (pinch due to fracture piece) then a simple open surgery and releasing the pressure + followed by vertebroplasty (bone cementing)   both at the same time, usually gives satisfactory outcome.

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