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Compression fracture of vertebral column

Last edited: 4/10/2026

Overview

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are a common condition with varied etiologies, including trauma, osteoporosis, and neoplastic infiltration 2. Osteoporotic VCFs are the most frequent cause, particularly in postmenopausal women and older men, while trauma is more common in individuals over 50 2.

Diagnosis

  • Diagnostic imaging is typically used to characterize VCFs 2.
  • Clinical history can help raise suspicion for specific etiologies like osteoporosis or malignancy 2.
  • Management

  • Management strategies are guided by the underlying etiology of the VCF 2.
  • Osteoporotic VCFs have specific evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment 1.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures require evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
  • The ACR Appropriateness Criteria provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of vertebral compression fractures, reviewed annually 2. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
  • References

    1 Cho CH, Hwang SW, Mazanec DJ, O'Toole JE, Watters WC, Annaswamy TM et al.. Guideline summary review: an evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adults with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society 2025. link 2 Khan MA, Jennings JW, Baker JC, Smolock AR, Shah LM, Pinchot JW et al.. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Management of Vertebral Compression Fractures: 2022 Update. Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR 2023. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Guideline summary review: an evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of adults with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.Cho CH, Hwang SW, Mazanec DJ, O'Toole JE, Watters WC, Annaswamy TM et al. The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society (2025)
    2. [2]
      ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Management of Vertebral Compression Fractures: 2022 Update.Khan MA, Jennings JW, Baker JC, Smolock AR, Shah LM, Pinchot JW et al. Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR (2023)

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