Compression fractures
Complete list of fracture information
Compression fractures occur when the vertebrae in the spine collapse from their normal
height of an inch or so to about half that size. This is most often caused
from a hard fall where someone lands on the feet or butt causing an impact
to travel up the spine. This causes the vertebrae to collapse. You can see
in the picture how the impact causes the vertebrae to fracture. Because the
impact is upward and not a blow to the side of the spine it often include
two or more vertebrae collapsing. Besides a hard fall many compression
fractures are caused by osteoporosis. As this disease weakens the bones it
does not take to had an impact to cause a compression fracture.