Spine Trauma

Car accidents, falls and sports injuries are examples of trauma that can cause spine fractures.

Spine fractures caused by trauma – such as a sudden blow or injury to the vertebrae – can occur anywhere on the spine, including bones in the neck or cervical spine, bones in the upper back or thoracic spine, the lower back or lumbar spine, and the section of connected bone at the very bottom of the spinal column called the sacrum.

Our Approach to Spine Trauma

UCSF is home to one of the country's largest centers dedicated to evaluating and treating spinal conditions, including injuries of the spinal cord, vertebrae and nearby nerves. Caring for severely injured patients often requires expertise in skeletal fixation, soft tissue repair, intensive care management and rehabilitation. To provide each patient with the best care possible, our center brings together world-renowned specialists in neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, neurology, pain management, physical therapy, psychiatry, radiology and rheumatology.

As part of an academic medical center, we can offer our patients access to the latest technologies, medications and procedures, such as the new minimally invasive kyphoplasty treatment for spinal fractures resulting from osteoporosis, a common affliction in our aging population. We also work closely with leading diagnostic radiologists, who can detect fractures that may not show up with conventional imaging techniques.