Lumbar compression fracture sequelae

  The main complications of lumbar compression fractures include injury to the spinal nerves, formation of cerebrospinal fluid leaks, gastrointestinal complications, incisional infections, and loosening of internal fixation at the lumbar spine surgical site and secondary fractures.  Compression fractures of the lumbar spine, resulting in nerve and spinal cord injury, are most often caused by incomplete hemostasis and hematoma compression during surgery, or by shock to the spinal cord during decompression, as well as by the presence of underlying diseases, especially in elderly patients. Damage to the nerve roots is usually caused by organic irritation, direct contusions or excessive strain on the nerve resulting in the formation of cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Injury to the dural sac due to old fractures, or severe spinal stenosis, or severe adhesions between the lumbar spine, posterior longitudinal ligaments and the dural sac, should be treated by removing the pillow and lying the patient in a flat position, removing the cerebral fluid in a timely manner, and treating the patient with symptomatic treatment, such as intravenous infusion of fluid. Lumbar compression fracture may also lead to gastrointestinal complications, autonomic dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance, and hematoma formed after the fracture, stimulation of the retroperitoneal vegetative nerves, and also when the intestinal peristalsis slows down in bed, there will be abdominal distension, abdominal pain, constipation and many other abnormal gastrointestinal symptoms, this situation should be fasted, to keep the stool open, you can use warm water bags and other hot compresses on the abdomen If necessary, oral Chinese medicine should be taken to laxative and laxative. Infection of the incision at the site of injury is also common, and is likely to occur 3 to 5 days after the injury or surgery. Compression fractures, after surgical treatment, can also produce loosening of the internal fixation and lead to fracture of the lumbar spine at the fracture site.  Patients with compression fractures should pay high attention to the possibility of the formation of the above complications, and when the lumbar spine can bear it, the patient can properly get out of bed after 4 weeks, and it should be noted that a lumbar brace needs to be worn to reduce the pressure on the vertebral body.