Spine Care

Wisconsin Bone & Joint spine care experts offer comprehensive
services to individuals with a wide range of spine, lower back,
upper back and neck issues.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spine Specialists At Wisconsin Bone & Joint

The physicians at Wisconsin Bone & Joint utilize cutting-edge technology to assess, diagnose and work with patients to develop innovative treatment plans for a variety of spine and neck conditions and injuries. Our team of physicians are committed to providing you with the best treatment options to alleviate your back and neck pain.

Providing trusted Orthopedic care in the community for over 40+ years

At Wisconsin Bone and Joint, we pride ourselves with providing you highly personalized and comprehensive orthopedic care. Our philosophy of direct physician-to-patient care means your physician will be an intrical part of every stage of your care. This commitment to a dedicated continuum-of-care model has made us one of the most trusted and respected practices in Southeast Wisconsin and greater Milwaukee area.

Spinal Cord Injuries

What Is Spinal Cord Injuries?

A spinal fracture is a serious injury.

The most common fractures of the spine occur in the thoracic (midback) and lumbar spine (lower back) or at the connection of the two (thoracolumbar junction). These fractures are typically caused by high-velocity accidents, such as a car crash or fall from height.

Men experience fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine four times more often than women. Seniors are also at risk for these fractures, due to weakened bone from osteoporosis.

Because of the energy required to cause these spinal fractures, patients often have additional injuries that require treatment. The spinal cord may be injured, depending on the severity of the spinal fracture.

What Causes Spinal Cord Injuries?

Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine are usually caused by high-energy trauma, such as:

  • Car crash
  • Fall from height
  • Sports accident
  • Violent act, such as a gunshot wound

Spinal fractures are not always caused by trauma.

For example people with osteoporosis, tumors, or other underlying conditions that weaken bone can fracture a vertebra during normal, daily activities.

What Are The Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries?

The primary symptom is moderate to severe back pain that is made worse by movement.

When the spinal cord is also involved, numbness, tingling, weakness, or bowel/bladder dysfunction may occur.

In the case of a high-energy trauma, the patient may have a brain injury and may have lost consciousness, or “blacked-out.”

There may also be other injuries — called distracting injuries — which cause pain that overwhelms the back pain. In these cases, it has to be assumed that the patient has a fracture of the spine, especially after a high-energy injury (motor vehicle crash).

What Are The Treatment Options For Spinal Cord Injuries?

The treatment plan for a fracture of the thoracic or lumbar spine will depend on:

  • Other injuries and their treatment
  • The particular fracture pattern
  • Once the trauma team has stabilized all other life-threatening injuries, the doctor will evaluate the spinal fracture pattern and decide whether spine surgery is needed.

Flexion Fracture Pattern

Nonsurgical treatment

Most flexion injuries (compression fractures, burst fractures) can be treated in a brace for 6 to 12 weeks. By gradually increasing physical activity and doing rehabilitation exercises, most patients avoid post injury problems.

Surgical treatment

Surgery is typically required for unstable burst fractures that have:

  • Significant comminution (fracture fragments)
  • Severe loss of vertebral body height
  • Excessive forward bending or angulation at the injury site
  • Significant nerve injury due to parts of the vertebral body or disk pinching the spinal cord
  • These fractures should be treated surgically with decompression of the spinal canal and stabilization of the fracture.

Decompression involves removing the bone or other structures that are pressing on the spinal cord. This procedure is also called a laminectomy.

To perform the decompression, your surgeon may decide to access your spine with an incision either on your side or on your back.

Each approach allows for safe removal of the structures compressing the spinal cord, while preventing further injury.

Extension Fracture Pattern

The treatment plan for extension injuries will depend on:

  • Where the spine fails
  • Whether the bones can be fit together again (reduction) using a brace or cast

Nonsurgical treatment

Extension fractures that occur only through the vertebral body can typically be treated nonsurgically. These should be observed closely in a brace or cast for 12 weeks.

Surgical treatment

Surgery is usually necessary if there is an injury to the posterior (back) ligaments of the spine. In addition, if the fracture falls through the disks of the spine, surgery should be performed to stabilize the fracture.

Rotation Fracture Pattern

Nonsurgical treatment

Transverse process fractures are predominantly treated with gradual increase in motion, with or without bracing, based on comfort level.

Surgical treatment

Fracture-dislocations of the thoracic and lumbar spine are caused by very high-energy trauma. They can be extremely unstable injuries that often result in serious spinal cord or nerve damage. These injuries require stabilization through surgery. The ideal timing of these surgeries can often be complicated. Surgery is sometimes delayed because of other serious, life-threatening injuries.

Surgical Procedure

The ultimate goal for surgery is to achieve adequate reduction (fitting the bones together), relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, and allow for early movement.

Depending on the fracture pattern, your surgeon may decide to do the procedure through an anterior (front), lateral (side), or posterior (back) approach, or a combination of all three.

Many types of instruments are used in surgery, including metal screws, rods, and cages to stabilize the spine.

Our team is here for you

When conservative care and treatment is appropriate, we offer the best, least invasive, least aggressive treatment options to relieve your pain and discomfort. When an injury is more serious and conservative care is not an option, our orthopedic surgeons provide the latest in innovative surgical interventions available with the goal of getting you back to the life you love. Wisconsin Bone & Joint physicians offer orthopedic services at three convenient locations in Mayfair, Glendale and Cedarburg.