Spinal fractures are rare but sometimes devastating injuries. They occur as the result of a significant trauma.  Normal bone can absorb considerable force without damage. Bone may be weakened, however, by a number of conditions, making fracture more likely – for example osteoporosis. The outcome from a spinal fracture depends on the extent of any nerve damage and the degree to which the injury has caused instability of the spine.

Each fracture is different and specific information will be provided should this be your problem.

Other injuries my simply disrupt the ligaments of the spine. In some circumstances, these too can cause instability and be associated with nerve injury. Again, specific information will be given.

The commonest injury is “a back strain” or “cricked neck”. We deal with these in the sections on neck and back pain.