In Greece there are no relevant statistics regarding the number of annual spinal fractures.
The number of vertebral fractures is increasing worldwide, where according to the American Academy of Orthopedics (AAOS) the majority of them are osteoporotic.
According to experts in the last decade, the annual growth rate exceeds 7%, while in the next five years, in countries with an aging population is expected to jump. Osteoporosis (often referred to as silent disease) is a systemic condition in which there is a loss of bone mass but also a disturbance of bone architecture. The American Academy of Orthopedics (AAOS) estimates that 9,000,000 osteoporotic fractures occur worldwide each year, although that number is actually higher because many fractures go undiagnosed.
From these fractures 51% occur in Europe and the United States‘s, with the most common location being the hip, spine and arm. 61% occur in women. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will suffer some kind of fracture in their lifetime. For this reason, it is recommended that women aged 45 years and men aged 50 be screened for osteoporosis.
In Greece there are no relevant statistics regarding the number of annual spinal fractures. It is estimated that There are about 400,000 women over the age of 50 who suffer from severe osteoporosis of the spinewhile the corresponding number of men with severe osteoporosis is estimated at about 50,000 people.
“Fractures, especially osteoporotic in the spine, can create serious problems in patients such as severe pain, loss of height, kyphosis, prolonged bed rest, and even respiratory dysfunction in extreme cases,” says neurosurgeon Theologos Theologos.
The treatment of fractures is individualized and can be either conservative or surgical. The purpose is to relieve the patient of the intense pain and to mobilize him as soon as possible.
In recent years with the development of technology, surgery is done with minimally invasive methods that have a very high success rate and offer many benefits to patients. The relief of the patient from the pains is, in most cases, immediate and his mobilization takes place after a few hours, in contrast to the past where he had to stay in bed for a long time, says Mr. Theologou.
Also, the patient returns to his daily life virtually immediately, but with a recommendation to avoid heavy work for a few weeks. Because in many patients spinal fractures are the first manifestation of osteoporosis, regular monitoring by a specialist to control and treat the disease is recommended.
