Braces may not improve spinal fracture healing after all…

Compression fractures in the spine due to osteoporosis are relatively common in older women; over 30% of women aged 70 years or older have at least one osteoporosis-related spinal fracture.
One treatment often used is a soft or rigid brace to stabilise the spine, reduce pain and prevent further deterioration and collapse of the fracture site. But research published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery suggests that women who wear a brace have similar outcomes in terms of pain, function and healing than those who did not wear a brace.
A total of 60 people (aged 65 years and older) with acute osteoporotic compression fractures were randomly assigned within three days of injury to wear a soft brace, a rigid brace or no brace. Outcomes (regarding pain and mobility) were measured at 12 weeks and were found to be similar between all groups.
“In addition to the cost and discomfort associated with braces, the findings in this study suggest that brace treatment for osteoporotic compression fractures may not provide any additional improvement in fracture healing, mobility and pain,” explains Dr Ho-Joong Kim, one of the authors. “Moreover, the gradual deterioration in life quality, including mental and social wellbeing, associated with this condition reemphasizes the need for prevention of osteoporotic compression and other fractures.”

Image credit: Matthias Ripp