This article focuses on fractures of the thoracic spine (midback) and lumbar spine (lower back) that result from a high-energy event, such as a car crash or a fall from a ladder. These types of fractures are typically medical emergencies that require urgent treatment.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a neck condition that occurs when the spinal cord becomes compressed—or squeezed—due to the wear-and-tear changes that occur in the spine as we age. The condition commonly occurs in patients over the age of 50.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called a "pinched nerve" occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. This may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder, as well as numbness that travels down the arm and into the hand.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Neck pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues—the muscles, ligaments, and nerves—as well as in bones and disks of the spine. For many people, neck pain is a temporary condition that disappears with time.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
The seven bones in the neck are the cervical vertebrae. They support the head and connect it to the shoulders and body. A fracture, or break, in one of the cervical vertebrae is commonly called a broken neck.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Fractures caused by osteoporosis most often occur in the spine. These spinal fractures — called vertebral compression fractures — are almost twice as common as other fractures typically linked to osteoporosis, such as broken hips and wrists.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Cervical spondylosis, commonly called arthritis of the neck, is the medical term for the wear-and-tear changes that occur in the cervical spine (neck) over time. The condition is common—but many people with cervical spondylosis experience no noticeable symptoms| orthoinfo.aaos.org
