Even minor falls or trauma can sometimes produce a spinal fracture. The most common cause? Osteoporosis.

Shock, that's what Angelina Washington felt when she learned she had a serious problem with bone loss at the age of 25. "You see commercials for osteoporosis and you see older people in them, you do not see young people and you do not think its something you can have."

Orthopedic Surgeon Paul Fuchs says that this condition can cause many problems including spinal fractures. "And we do have treatment options for patients who are diagnosed with osteoporosis and we try to be diligent about testing these patients with bone density tests to see if the bone is weak."

Dr. Fuchs also says that spinal fractures due to osteoporosis often occur while doing something that can be considered relatively minor. "Like stepping off of a curb or stepping off of a stair, or bending over to pick up your groceries, you can sustain a fracture because of the weak bone. It doesn't take a high energy injury."

Dr. Fuchs explains that if surgery is required, then something called kyphoplasty might be appropriate. It is a very innovative technique that is very successful in treating spinal compression fractures. "We open up the balloons to restore the height and then we remove the balloons and fill the bone with bone cement. And essentially what that does is it heals the fracture in just a few minutes."

This is a minimally invasive surgical technique and patients usually return home the day of surgery, or perhaps stay in the hospital overnight.

Because of the possibility of loss of stability over time following an injury, immediate treatment should be sought whenever a spinal injury is suspected.