The American journal of orthopedics
-
Vertebral fractures, particularly if they are nonsymptomatic, are old, and have not produced kyphotic deformity, should be treated with conservative care, including appropriate medical management. Those fractures that are symptomatic, produce pain that persists over several weeks (4 out of 10 on the visual analog score), and have resulted in some kyphotic deformity should be treated with a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. ⋯ Currently we treat all Colles' fractures, all hip fractures, and all tibia plateau fractures. The time has come to treat all symptomatic vertebral fractures.