Volume 26, Issue 124, June 2022

Effect of pre-surgical physiotherapy rehabilitation of a traumatic D-11 vertebral compression fracture: A case study

Nikita Kachhwani¹, Rebecca Timothy^2♦

¹UG scholar, Department of Neuro Physiotherapy, Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College, DMIMS, Wardha (Sawangi), Maharashtra, India
²Assistant professor, Department of neuro Physiotherapy, Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College, DMIMS, Wardha (Sawangi), Maharashtra, India

^♦Corresponding author
Assistant professor, Department of neuro Physiotherapy, Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College, DMIMS, Wardha (Sawangi), Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT

Vertebral compression fractures are usually the fractures of thoraco-lumbar region in which the vertebrae collapse into it and becomes squashed into a wedge shape. The most common cause of this is the presence of osteoporosis or high velocity trauma. These fractures occur as a result of flexion type of injuries. These fractures cause substantial pain and impairment, limiting everyday activities and lowering quality of life. When evaluated, these patients have no aberrant findings, but they do have kyphosis and discomfort in the spinal region. Movements involving flexion of the spine exacerbate the pain. Management includes conservative management and surgical management. Surgically, fractures are managed by vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Physiotherapy is suggested to help with the symptoms occurring due to the condition as well as due to the surgery. Rehabilitation starts post operatively and includes pain management, strengthening exercise program, flexibility exercises and return to daily activities. The therapist also incorporates the use of brace to prevent flexion of the spinal column which exacerbates the condition. This has proven to have successful results; however, early initiation of the process can help the patient overall in terms of pain, strength, disability, kinesiophobia and reduced length of hospital stay after a spinal surgery. In case of vertebral fracture with cord compression, physiotherapy intervention pre-op and post-op has been proven to be quite useful in early recovery of the patient along with reduced hospital stay

Keywords: Vertebral fracture, cord compression, physiotherapy, rehabilitation

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms213e2230

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i124/ms213e2230

Published: 09 June 2022