Conservative management of a lumbar compression fracture in an osteoporotic patient: a case report.

OBJECTIVE To chronicle the conservative treatment and management of an osteoporotic patient presenting with acute back pain resulting from a lumbar compression fracture. CLINICAL FEATURES A 74-year old male presented with acute back pain in the thoracolumbar region after an episode of lifting. Radiographic evaluation revealed generalized demineralization and a moderate wedge compression fracture at L1. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME The conservative treatment approach included postural education, activity modification, interferential current, taping into extension, Graston Technique(®), and rehabilitative exercise prescription. Outcome measures included verbal pain rating scale, medication use, and a return to activities of daily living (ADLs). The patient attained long-term symptom resolution with no recurrence of pain at 12 month follow-up. SUMMARY A combination of conservative rehabilitation strategies may be successfully implemented to treat osteoporotic patients with mild to moderate osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture of the lumbar spine.