How to treat severe lumbar fractures?

Fracture is a relatively serious symptom. In most cases, fracture is caused by external force, such as falls, collisions, etc. Many middle-aged and elderly people are prone to spontaneous fractures due to osteoporosis due to rapid bone loss. There is another type of fracture with a relatively high incidence rate, that is, lumbar fracture. This is because the lumbar spine is the part that bears pressure for the longest time. Fractures are very likely to occur when the pressure is too great. In severe cases, it can cause paralysis and inability to move. Therefore, lumbar fractures should not be taken lightly. Let’s take a look at how to treat severe lumbar fractures.

1. Conservative treatment

It is suitable for simple compression fractures with height >50%, simple spinous process or transverse process fractures, and stable fractures without nerve damage.

2. Surgery

The goal is to relieve spinal nerve compression, correct deformities, and restore spinal stability. It is suitable for unstable spinal fractures, vertebral compression exceeding 1/2 and deformity angle greater than 20°. The methods include posterior pedicle screw fixation technique, anterior transabdominal surgery, and spinal nerve decompression surgery. In recent years, some scholars have also adopted percutaneous minimally invasive surgery.

Precautions:

1. First aid: If the injured person is still pinned by debris, earth, etc., do not forcefully pull the exposed limbs to avoid aggravating damage to blood vessels, spinal cord, or fractures. Any objects pressing on the injured person should be removed immediately. Spinal fractures are often accompanied by fractures of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.

2. If the cervical vertebra is fractured, use clothes and pillows to press the sides of the head and neck to keep it immobile.

3. If the thoracic and lumbar spine is fractured, make the injured person lie flat on a hard bed, stuff pillows, bricks, and clothes on both sides of the body to fix the spine in an upright position. Three people are required to work at the same time when transporting the patient. The specific method is: three people squat on one side of the injured person, one person supports the shoulders and back, one person supports the waist and hips, and one person supports the lower limbs. They work together to place the patient in a supine position on a hard stretcher, and pad the waist with clothes and mattresses.

4. Bandage the wound on the body, rinse the wound, stop bleeding, and bandage it.

5. Complete or incomplete fracture injuries should be fixed on the spot and complications should be prevented and treated. In particular, the fastest means of transport to the hospital should be adopted and the patient should be closely observed during the escort.