A burst fracture describes an injury to the spine where the vertebrae get compressed severely. These types of injuries occur from severe trauma, like an automobile accident or a serious fall, sports injury, work injury. These injuries entail a great deal of force into the spine, so much so that a vertebra can get crushed.
When crushed in the front of the spine, a wedge-shaped fracture occurs and is known as a compression fracture.
But if the vertebral body gets crushed in all directions this is known as a burst fracture.
The term burst means that the vertebral body spreads out in all directions.
Severe Injury
This is a much more severe injury than a compression fracture. With the bones crushed and possible rough jagged edges, if they spread out the spinal cord has a high probability of being injured. The fragments can bruise the spinal cord causing paralysis or partial neurologic injury. The spine becomes far less stable than from a compression fracture.
Nerve Injury
Neurologic injuries from a burst fracture can range from no injury to paralysis. This depends on the amount of force present at the time of the injury and how much the spinal canal is compromised.
A greater amount of force equals more bony fragments that can be forced into the spinal canal and cause higher loss of spinal cord function.
This can cause loss of:
Strength
Sensation
Reflexes below the injury
With an incomplete spinal cord injury, partial paralysis or partial reflex loss occurs.
With a mild burst fracture, only short-term symptoms could be present and no neurologic injury.
Intense Pain
Burst fractures can cause intense pain and the pain is right where the trauma took place.
But pain can also present in the legs and feet depending on how the spinal nerves were affected, shifted or pinched. Patients complain of an electric tingling or shooting type sensation in their legs with spinal cord compression. With a burst fracture, individuals are unable to walk right after the trauma. But the pain percentage present is severe enough that they know not to try and walk.
Diagnosis
If at the sight of the accident the patient says that they have severe back pain should not be in a seated flexed position. They need to be kept lying flat and transported in a flat position.
If they stand or sit with a burst fracture, it can increase the possibility of a neurologic injury.
Burst fractures require immediate medical attention from an orthopedic or neurosurgeon. The patient is taken to an emergency room and x-rays, CT scans are gathered.
The diagnosis of a burst fracture is typically made with x-rays and a CT scan.
Sometimes, an MRI will be ordered to assess the amount of:
Soft tissue trauma
Bleeding
Ligament injury
The CT scan and x-rays allow the doctor to determine the level of the fracture, and if it is a:
Compression fracture
Burst fracture
Fracture-dislocation
This will determine how much the spinal canal has been compromised and if its angulation or angle has taken an abnormal bend or curve. These factors all contribute to the development of an optimal treatment plan.
The physical exam will document:
Spinal deformity and Angulation of the spine
Tenderness of the spine where the fracture is located
Neurologic exam
Neurologic exam should include testing:
Muscle strength
Sensation
Reflexes of the lower extremities
Testing of bowel and bladder control
Treatment & Recovery
A stable burst fracture can be treated without surgery.
A stable burst fracture falls into these parameters:
There is no neurologic injury
The angulation is less than 20 degrees
The amount of spinal canal compromise is less than 50%
With this type of treatment, a brace along with physical therapy/chiropractic can have excellent results.
A turtle or clamshell brace TLSO�(Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis) is a body cast used in the treatment of a burst fracture.
The brace is worn for eight to twelve weeks for adequate and optimal healing.
There are times when a fracture thought stable and treated can start to angulate. This may require surgery. However, all burst fractures require some form of treatment.
Recovery
Nonsurgical treatment patients stay in the hospital for one or two days while their brace is fit.
X-rays are done in the standing position to make sure the spine stays stable.
Pain medications are prescribed for three to four weeks
Non-narcotic medications can begin after the final week
When the brace is removed, physical therapy and chiropractic are instituted to help return strength to the core and lower extremities.
Surgical patients will remain in the hospital for three to five days.
They will be fitted with a brace after the incisions present less pain and are recovered from the surgery.
They can walk within one or two days with the help of a physical therapist.
X-rays are taken to follow the position of the spine and see how the healing is progressing.
Chiropractic/Physical therapy is implemented to help with core strength and lower extremity strength.
Recovery time depends on the severity of the neurologic injury.
Patients that don’t have a neurologic injury can make a full recovery with return to most activities.
Patients with partial neurological injuries can also expect to fully recover.
Unfortunately, with permanent neurologic injury, recovery can be limited.
But treatment for burst fractures today is superior to what they were years ago, especially with spine specialists and specific spinal procedures.
Chiropractic Rehab
Chiropractic is not a treatment for fractures but is a treatment for subluxations and rehabilitation with these types of fractures. Once a fracture has stabilized and healed properly, a chiropractic evaluation can rule out any lingering subluxation, herniation, and joint restriction. The adjustments are safe and effective in establishing optimal function to a subluxated joint.
Chiropractic Treatment For Car Accident Injuries El Paso, Texas
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Chiropractors can help alleviate some of the long-term and immediate concerns associated with bone fractures. A chiropractor can help with compression techniques which are beneficial in maintaining the bone in place for healing. A chiropractor may also advocate wellness techniques, such as a healthy diet that will optimize the body�s ability to restore its original health and wellness. Chiropractors may also educate a patient on a variety of exercises and stretches to reduce the likelihood of complications and which, if done properly and at fixed intervals, will promote quicker recovery.
Neck pain caused by a whiplash injury definitely warrants a visit to a chiropractic whiplash specialist that can provide non-surgical treatment and pain relief.
Whiplash is an injury to the neck muscles from a rapid forward and backward motion of the neck caused by trauma from a car accident, sports injury, slip and fall accident or even just turning one’s head but doing it with a fast whipping motion that causes the neck/spine muscles to become swollen and irritated. It can cause acute short-term neck pain and restricted movement.
How a Whiplash Injury Is Diagnosed
A chiropractor evaluates the spine in its entirety. If you go to a chiropractic clinic with neck pain following trauma. The chiropractor will examine the whole spine because the other areas of the spine could be affected and not just the neck region.
The chiropractor locates the areas where motion is restricted if there are any disc injuries, muscle spasms, and ligament injuries. They will first apply motion and staticpalpation diagnostic techniques where they feel and touch the various areas where the pain is present, as well as where there is no pain. A chiropractor will also feel for:
Tenderness
Tightness
How well the spinal joints move
They will also analyze the patient’s walk noting their posture and if there is possible spinal misalignment. This will help the chiropractor understand the patient’s body’s mechanics and what their spine is doing to compensate for the injury. This can mean:
Leaning to one side
Getting up in a very careful way so as to avoid pain
Hunching over
Only turning in one direction
In addition to the evaluation, they will also order an x-ray or an MRI to evaluate any deteriorating changes that could have existed before the whiplash injury. The images and physical and neurological evaluation resultsare compared to figure out and develop the best treatment plan.
Whiplash Treatment Stages
After a whiplash injury happens a chiropractor works to reduce neck inflammation with various therapies like:
Massage
Ultrasound
Light stretching
Soft manual therapy techniques
They may also recommend applying an ice pack on the neck and light neck support for a short time. As the inflammation and pain decrease the chiropractor will begin applying gentle spinal manipulation along with other techniques to restore the normal motion to the neck’s facet joints.
Chiropractic Whiplash Injury Treatment
A treatment plan depends on the severity of the whiplash injury. Some manipulation techniques used are:
Flexion-distraction technique
This is a gentle non-thrusting type of spinal manipulation that helps treat herniated discs. A whiplash injury can cause an aggravated bulging or herniated disc. If this happens a chiropractor uses a slow palm pump action on the disc rather than direct thrusting force.
Instrument-assisted manipulation
This technique also non-thrusting utilizes a hand-held instrument. A chiropractor generates force without thrusting directly into the spine. This therapy is great for older patients who may have degenerative joint syndrome.
Specific spinal manipulation
Spinal joints that are restricted or have abnormal motion are identified. Then the chiropractor restores motion to the joint with a gentle thrust. This stretches the soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to bring back normal motion.
Along with these spinal therapies/techniques, a chiropractor also uses manual therapy to treat the soft tissues like the ligaments and muscles. Some examples of manual techniques are:
Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy is where a chiropractor uses an instrument/s like the Graston technique, that gently treats any injured soft tissues. They will gently apply the instrument along the injured area with repeated strokes.
Manual joint stretching and resistance therapy is a form of manual therapy that uses the muscle’s own energy to create isometric contractions that help relax the muscles, and help lengthen the muscles.
Therapeutic massage is where a chiropractor or physical therapist performs massage to ease and relax muscle tension in the neck.
Trigger point therapy identifies specific tight painful points/areas of muscle by applying direct pressure with the hands or fingers on these points to alleviate the muscle tension.
Interferential electrical stimulation This technique uses low-frequency electrical current to stimulate the muscles and reduce inflammation.
Ultrasound increases blood circulation and helps reduce muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. This happens by sending sound waves deep into the muscle’s tissue which generates low heat and increases circulation.
Therapeutic exercises to restore normal spinal motion and reduce whiplash symptoms.
Chiropractic medicine looks at the whole person and not just the symptoms. Neck pain is different for everyone, so chiropractors don�t just focus on the pain because the whiplash injury could have affected other areas that the patient doesn’t feel pain or anything.
But as the spine is a complex structure that works as a unit, a problem in one area can slowly or quickly start to create problems in other areas of the spine much like falling dominoes.
With these techniques, a chiropractor will help increase a patient’s daily activities back to normal as quickly as they can, depending on the severity of the injury. They will work as hard as they can to address any added spinal or nerve-related causes/injuries stemming from the original whiplash injury and treat them as well until normal movement is restored and there is no longer pain.
Remember that prevention is the key to optimal long-term health!
Our team has taken great pride in bringing our families and injured patients only clinically proved treatment protocols. �By teaching complete holistic wellness as a lifestyle, we also change not only our patient�s lives but their families as well.� We do this so that we may reach as many El Pasoans who need us, no matter the affordability issues.
El Paso, TX Chiropractic Neck Pain Treatment
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Often,�people with whiplash don�t experience any effects until a day, or even two, after. The key is to stay ahead of the pain and take measures sooner rather than later to relieve it and keep it at bay. It also provides documentation should other issues arise, and you need the information for legal purposes.
If you are in an accident, especially if you get rear-ended, and experience whiplash, see a doctor that day ��even if you don�t feel much pain. The sooner you visit a chiropractic clinic, the sooner you can begin treatment should a problem develop.
Pilates or yoga can work wonders and always stretch before physical exercise.
Get fit – no regular physical activity can lead to serious conditions and possibly chronic pain.
Exercise benefits all, even some light walking around the neighborhood is enough. Just get moving!
Playing a sport could be a way to keep active. Remember, in order for any exercise to work is that it is done regularly.
Strength training is important, just as its name implies strength training builds muscle and reduces muscle imbalances.
It�s never too late to increase strength and flexibility.
Look at activities that you and your friends/family can enjoy and make doing them a regular thing.
A�chiropractor�is the ideal�medical professional to consult with for any unexplained pain in the musculoskeletal system. They are highly qualified professionals that their specialty is treating conditions like lower back pain and they are very affordable. If you or a loved one have pain in the lower back, give us a call. We�re here to help!
Understand *FOOT PRONATION* & How to Correct it with Orthotics | El Paso, TX (2019)
Foot pronation is the natural movement that occurs during foot landing while walking or running. Foot pronation also occurs while standing, and in this instance, it is the amount in which the foot rolls inward toward the arch. Foot pronation is normal, however, excessive foot pronation can cause a variety of health issues, including bad posture. The following video describes the 5 red flags of excessive foot pronation, which can ultimately affect a person’s overall health and wellness. Dr. Alex Jimenez can help diagnose and treat excessive foot pronation. Patients recommend Dr. Alex Jimenez and his staff as the non-surgical choice for excessive foot pronation health issues.
Manuel Lozano’s ability to participate in his daily responsibilities was lost after he was involved in an auto accident. Mr. Lozano’s symptoms worsened and took hold of his life. He couldn’t take it anymore and sought treatment. Local El Paso chiropractor Dr. Alex Jimenez treated and restored Mr. Lozano’s health to optimal performance, and he recommends El Paso Back Clinic & Dr. Jimenez for auto accident injuries.
El Paso Back Clinic
We are blessed to present El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic to you.
At El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we are passionately focused on treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility, and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.
We were hoping you could live a life filled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight, and education on maintaining this way of life.
Helping You Heal To Optimal Performance!
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Mr. Manuel Lozano was involved in a car accident which resulted in back pain. The painful symptoms began to manifest, and Mr. Lozano struggled to participate in his everyday physical activities. That’s when Manuel Lozano found chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez. Manuel Lozano received chiropractic care with Dr. Jimenez and found tremendous pain relief from his symptoms. Manuel Lozano discusses how Dr. Jimenez taught him how to improve his overall quality of life. Manuel Lozano highly recommends Dr. Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, TX, as the non-surgical choice for automobile accident injuries.
El Paso Back Clinic
We are blessed to present to you�El Paso�s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.
As El Paso�s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center,�we passionately are focused on treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.
We want you to live a life filled with more energy, positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life.
I assure you, I will only accept the best for you�
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Involvement in a car crash is an unfortunate situation that can result in various automobile accident injuries. People suffering from whiplash, neck pain, and back pain due to an auto accident can struggle to continue their regular activities. Dr. Alexander Jimenez is a personal injury chiropractor who focuses on treating automobile accident injuries, among other health issues.
Patients describe how their quality of life was affected after a car crash and discuss how chiropractic care with Dr. Jimenez helped them recover their overall health and wellness. The patients highly recommend Dr. Alex Jimenez as the non-surgical choice for personal injuries and auto accident injuries, among other health issues, such as whiplash, neck pain, and back pain.
El Paso Back Clinic
https://youtu.be/1MFwLhYbTRU
We are blessed to present El Paso’s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic to you.
As El Paso’s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center, we are passionately focused on treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.
We want you to live a life filled with more energy, positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life.
I assure you, I will only accept the best for you
If you have enjoyed this video and we have helped you in any way, please feel free to subscribe and recommend us.
Automobile injury accidents are common health problems which can affect an individual’s overall health and wellness. For several patients, automobile accident injuries can tremendously restrict their capacity to participate in their regular physical tasks. Dr. Alex Jimenez is a doctor of chiropractic in El Paso, TX who specializes in the identification, treatment, and prevention of a variety of health problems associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, such as auto accident injuries. Chiropractic care is another treatment option which uses spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to thoroughly fix any misalignment of the backbone, or subluxation, which might be causing debilitating symptoms. Dr. Alex Jimenez is the non-surgical choice for car accident injuries, among other health problems.
Chiropractic Rehabilitation
We are blessed to present to you�El Paso�s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.
As El Paso�s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center,�we passionately are focused on treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.
We want you to live a life filled with more energy, positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight and educated on how to maintain this way of life.
I assure you, I will only accept the best for you�
If you have enjoyed this video and we have helped you in any way, please feel free to subscribe and recommend�us.
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