Osteoporotic fractures—- main cause of sudden low back pain in the elderly

  If the elderly have the following symptoms: 1. Most of the grade are over 60 years old, more women than men, and some are already known to have osteoporosis.  2. There is a history of accidental sprains, sitting on the floor or falls.  3, Severe pain in the low back, sometimes even when gasping for air, and pain involving the chest or abdomen.  4, Low back pain is most intense when going to bed, getting up or turning over in bed.  With the above 4, it is highly suspected that there has been an osteoporotic compression fracture of the thoracic or lumbar spine.  What needs to be done at this point is: 1. Reduce exercise and rest in bed.  2. Do bone densitometry to see if you have osteoporosis.  3.Take an X-ray to see if there is an obvious spinal fracture.  4. Do an MRI of the appropriate area to determine if it is a fresh or old fracture, and if there are several spinal fractures (a number of people with osteoporotic fractures have several spinal segment fractures).  What to do after the diagnosis is confirmed?  1.Bed rest for 1-3 months depending on the fracture. However, bed rest complications such as bed sores, pneumonia and urinary tract infections are likely to occur in the elderly, and they may not all heal after prolonged bed rest and may still require minimally invasive surgery.  2. Minimally invasive spine surgery, i.e. percutaneous vertebroplasty. No incision is needed, and medical bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae. Patients can quickly relieve pain and resume normal walking and life, avoiding bed-ridden complications.  3. It requires 1-2 days of hospitalization, and the patient can get out of bed and walk 2 hours after the operation.