Vertebral compression fracture
Also called: Compression fracture, crush fracture of spine
What it means
A vertebral compression fracture is when a bone in the spine collapses or flattens, often because the bone is weakened by osteoporosis.
These fractures are a common sign of fragile bone and can lead to pain, stooped posture, and higher risk of future fractures.
A vertebral compression fracture happens when a bone in the spine (a vertebral body) collapses or caves in, usually in the front, giving it a wedge shape. This is most often caused by weakened bone from osteoporosis rather than a major injury—sometimes just bending, lifting, or coughing is enough. It's one of the most common fragility fractures.
Many compression fractures cause sudden back pain, but some happen so gradually that a person doesn't notice a specific injury at all. Over time, multiple compression fractures can lead to height loss, a stooped posture called kyphosis, and ongoing back discomfort. Because they can be silent, doctors sometimes find them by chance on an X-ray or a scan.
On a routine bone density scan of the spine, an old compression fracture can actually make the bone look denser than it really is, since collapsed or deformed bone can artificially raise the reading. This is why doctors also look at other spine levels, the hip, and sometimes a special spine image called a vertebral fracture assessment to get the full picture. Finding a compression fracture on its own is considered a sign of osteoporosis, no matter what the T-score shows.
A vertebral compression fracture is a collapsed spine bone, usually from osteoporosis, signaling fragile bone and more fracture risk ahead.
Where this leads
WordSince these fractures can be a quiet sign of fragile bone, you might wonder how one gets found. A Vertebral Fracture Assessment can spot hidden ones.
Where the Academy teaches it
This page is the short version. The lessons teach it in full, with the context around it and a quiz to lock it in.
Related words
Osteoporosis is a condition where bone breakdown outpaces bone building, causing bones to become thinner, more…
Kyphosis is an excessive forward curve of the upper back, often called a dowager's hump, which in bone-health terms…
Height loss is when you become noticeably shorter than you were in your younger years, often an inch or more over…
A fragility fracture is a broken bone caused by a fall or bump that normally wouldn't break a healthy bone, often at…
Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA) is a side-view spine image, usually taken on a DXA machine, used to spot hidden…
A DEXA scan is a low-radiation X-ray test that measures how much mineral is in your hip and spine bones, giving you…
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