Vertebral compression fracture patient information

Find out what to expect when you come to hospital for your appointment at the vertebral compression fracture clinic.

Before your appointment

If you have had a scan at another hospital, we will arrange for these to be transferred to us in time for your appointment. However, if you have a copy of your images please bring these with you.

Remember to also check your appointment letter for anything specific you have been asked to take with you. To help us plan the best treatment for you, please bring to your appointment a list of current medications and your medical conditions. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:

• Your full address and telephone number(s)
• Your appointment card and appointment letter
• Your GP’s name and address
• Money to pay for any prescriptions, or an exemption card 
• A list of questions you may want to ask your consultant

During your appointment

If you have been referred to the clinic with a spinal fracture, at your first appointment it is likely an x-ray will be taken to give us up-to-date images of your spine. Following this, you will be examined by the spinal team’s doctors or spinal physiotherapy practitioners, and we will agree with you a plan for your treatment.

After your appointment

If your fracture can be treated with medication and physiotherapy this will be organised.

If surgical treatment is required, the risks and benefits will be discussed with you, along with details of what the procedure involves.

If surgery is agreed upon, you will return for an operation as soon as possible after your initial appointment. Before this, there may be a need for us to arrange additional scans of your spine. This involves a separate appointment with our radiology department for a CT or MRI scan. These scans will then be looked at by the spinal team, and we will send you an appointment for your surgical treatment within a few days.

You will be reviewed in the fracture clinic a few weeks after your operation and appropriate additional rehabilitation and physiotherapy will be arranged.