Major Trauma
The following information provided is to help your recovery following a spinal fracture.
What will be arranged prior to going home?
Tablets to take home
GP letter
Outpatients’ appointment
Fit note – formally know as a sick note (if required)
Support services (if required – Not for cleaning and shopping)
What is a fractured spine?
A fractured spine is a medical term for breaking any of your vertebrae, the 33 bones that make up your spinal column.
Your spine runs from the base of your skull to your pelvis. Depending on where along your spine you have fractured, and the number of fractures involved, will affect where the pain is felt and how you are treated.
Most spinal fractures will not require surgery, but you might need to wear a brace for a period of time. However, severe or complex spinal fractures may require surgery.
Your spine is divided into three main sections, all of which can experience a spinal fracture.
- Cervical spine fracture: Broken vertebrae in your neck.
- Thoracic spine fracture: Broken vertebrae in your upper back that runs from the bottom of your neck to the bottom of your ribs.
- Lumbar spine fracture: Broken vertebrae in your lower back.
Types of spinal fractures
The most common types of spinal fracture include:
- Compression fracture
Compression fractures are small breaks or cracks in the vertebrae that are caused by trauma or develop over time as a result of osteoporosis. - Burst fracture
Burst fractures happen when your spine is suddenly compressed with a strong force. They cause your vertebrae to break into many pieces. - Chance fracture
Chance fractures happen when your vertebrae are suddenly pulled away from each other.
Stable and unstable spinal fractures
A stable or unstable fracture is another way a health care provider will classify your spinal fracture.
If you have a stable fracture, the injury that broke your vertebrae didn’t push or pull them out of their usual place (alignment) in your spine, you may still need treatment but are less likely to require surgery.
Unstable spinal fractures happen when the injury moves your vertebrae out of their usual alignment. There is a much higher chance that you will require surgery to repair your broken vertebrae if the fracture is unstable.
How are spinal fractures treated?
How your fractured spine is treated depends on a few factors, including:
What caused the fracture
Which type of fracture it is
Where in your back the broken vertebrae are
Conservative treatment
Most spinal fractures are treated conservatively. This means allowing the bone to heal naturally. This does not mean recovery is simple, spinal fractures can be painful and limit daily activities of living. You will be prescribed, as well as discharged, with regular pain relief.
The healing process often takes three to four months, but the majority of the pain will settle in around six to eight weeks.
Bracing
You might need to wear a back brace to hold your spine in alignment to help your broken vertebrae heal properly, most patients need to wear a brace for a few months. Additional information will be given to regarding your brace.
Physical therapy
Strengthening the muscles in your back can improve your overall strength, you may need to work with a physical therapist in person or do at home exercises.
Spinal surgery
Occasionally an operation is suggested to treat your vertebral fracture. The operation will have been discussed with your consultant. Patients who require spinal surgery may need longer to recover. It might take up to six weeks to recover from the surgery, then an additional few months for your spine to heal. Your surgeon will discuss with you a customised recovery timeline following your procedure.
Returning to work
You are likely to require some time off from work initially. Discuss this with your consultant and employer before you return to work. You may need to modify your activities at work for a while when you return, especially if your job is an active one or involves driving. Please ask for a sick note, if you require one, prior to discharge.
Medication
Before you leave hospital, you will receive a supply of the tablets which you will need to continue to take at home. The nurse will explain the side effects you need to be made aware of, and when is suitable for you to take.
There is a label on your medicine box that tells you how and when to take it. Please read these instructions carefully before taking your medicine. There are some medicines that have special instructions, such as whether to take them before or after food. These instructions will also be on the label.
It is important to ONLY take the medications prescribed to you when you are discharged from the hospital.
Sleep, rest and relaxation
You will experience feeling weak and become tired more quickly following your discharge. Take care to build things up gradually with plenty of sleep, including an afternoon nap if needed.
Try to get a balance between activity and rest. You may need to limit the number of visitors you have when you first go home.
Your sleep pattern may be disturbed after the trauma. This is unpleasant but should disappear within the first few weeks.
Emotions
Do not worry if you feel upset or emotional after your major trauma – this is a normal reaction. Symptoms of mood swings, including depression, fear, anxiety, loneliness, helplessness, and anger, may occur for the first few weeks after surgery.
Outpatients appointment
If required, you will be contacted or seen by a member of the team following your discharge. This appointment will be sent to you in the post.
Contact us
In a medical emergency you should contact 999
If you believe your condition is serious then please return to your local emergency department, bringing all discharge documentation you have been given.
For information and advice on your discharge and recovery please contact Ward 36 to speak with the nursing staff.
- Major Trauma coordinators at The James Cook University Hospital
Telephone: 01642 854226, Extension: 55918 - Ward 36: Telephone: 01642 854536 (Available 24 hours a day)
- Major Trauma coordinators: Telephone 07442 790 011
Email: [email protected]
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]