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What is a sacral fracture?
A
sacral fracture is a break in your
sacrum. The sacrum
is a triangle-shaped (three sided) bone made up of five
fused (joined) vertebrae. The vertebrae are the bones that
make up your spine. The sacrum is found at the end of the
spine, with the
hip bones on each side. A sacral fracture
more commonly occurs in older adults because they have
weaker bones. Young,
active people, especially female long-distance
runners, may also get sacral fractures.
What causes a sacral fracture?
Sacral fractures are usually caused by an injury to the
sacrum. These injuries can be caused by any of the
following:
What are the risk factors of having a
sacral fracture?
The following are factors that may increase your chances
of having a sacral fracture:
- Having legs that are a different length or being
born with a sacral defect, such as
spina bifida.
- Having diseases that affect the bone, such as
osteoporosis,
Paget's disease, or bone cancer.
- Having leg surgery, a
liver transplant, or radiation
therapy. The use of certain medicines, such as steroids,
increases the risk of having a sacral fracture.
- Having
thyroid disease.
- Increased activity or sudden change in an athletic
training program.
- Wearing poor fitting or improper footwear.
-
Running on a training surface that is different
than what you usually run on.
What are the signs and symptoms of a
sacral fracture?
You may have low back, buttock, or hip pain. You may also
have pain in the groin and front portion of your thigh. The
groin is the area where your upper leg and lower abdomen
meet. You may have bruising and swelling around the sacral
area. Sometimes nervous system problems develop with a
sacral fracture. The nervous system includes the brain,
spinal
cord, and nerves. These problems include bowel or
bladder conditions, sexual problems, or weakness of the
lower limbs.
How is a sacral fracture diagnosed?
You may have one or more of the following:
-
Bone scan: This is a test to look at your
bones. You are given a small amount of dye through an
IV, and pictures of your bones are taken. Caregivers can
look at the pictures for broken bones, infections, and
other problems.
- Computerized tomography scan: This is also
called a CT or CAT scan. This is a type of
x-ray that
uses computers to take pictures of your sacrum. You may
be given a dye before the pictures are taken to help
your caregiver see the pictures better. People who are
allergic to iodine or shellfish (lobster, crab, or
shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell your
caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish or have other
allergies or medical conditions.
- Magnetic resonance imaging scan: This is also
called an
MRI. The test uses magnetic waves to take
pictures of your sacrum and to see if there is damage to
the spinal cord.
- X-rays: You may need
x-rays of the sacrum to
check for broken bones or other problems in your hip.
How is a sacral fracture treated?
Treatment will depend upon the kind of fracture that you
have. Mild
sacral fractures that were caused by increased
activity may be treated with rest alone.
Medicine to
decrease pain may be given so that you can return to your
usual activities as soon as possible. After your fracture
has healed, you may need an
exercise program to help you be more flexible. Severe
sacral fractures, often caused by trauma, may require
surgery to return the bones to their normal position. During
this surgery, caregivers may check for other spinal cord
problems.
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