What is a sacral fracture?

What is a sacral fracture?

A sacral fracture occurs when a bone called the sacrum breaks. The sacrum is a large triangular bone at the bottom of the spine. It fits like a wedge between the two hip bones. The sacrum is made up of the sacral vertebrae, which are fused together. Sometimes the coccyx, or tailbone, is fractured along with the sacrum.

What is a Zone 1 sacral fracture?

Zone 1 fractures occur in the most lateral portion of the sacrum, the sacral wing. These injuries are not complicated by neurological symptoms, but occasionally nerve roots can be involved. Fractures in the second zone involve the sacral foramina, excluding the sacral canal.

What is a Type 3 sacral fracture?

zone 3: fracture is medial to the neural foramen, involving the spinal canal; these may be transverse or longitudinal, and can be sub-classified into 4 types: type 1: only kyphotic angulation at the fracture site (no translation) type 2: kyphotic angulation with anterior translation of the distal sacrum.

What causes a sacral fracture?

A fracture on the sacrum is created when there is continual pressure placed on the bone. Weak bones are especially susceptible to fractures, most often along the spine. Other causes for a sacrum fracture include: Constant stress or pressure placed on backbones.

How do I know if I fractured my sacrum?

What are the signs and symptoms of a sacral fracture?

1. Low back, buttock, or hip pain.
2. Pain in the front of your thigh and your groin.
3. Bruising and swelling around the sacral area.
4. Bowel or bladder conditions, sexual problems, or weakness of the lower limbs.

How long does it take for sacral fracture to heal?

A sacral fracture takes 8–12 weeks to heal and fusion rates following sacral fractures have been reported to be 85–90%. Malunion can occur after delayed treatment or insufficient reduction, with a consequent alteration of pelvic incidence.

Can you walk with a fractured sacrum?

A physician named Lourie first described sacral insufficiency fractures in 1982. These fractures can cause severe pain in the buttock, back, hip, groin, and/or pelvis. Walking is typically slow and painful.

How do I know if I broke my sacrum?

How do you treat a sacral fracture?

Sacral fractures can be treated non-operatively or surgically. Non-operative treatment is based on rest, pain relief therapy and early mobilization as tolerated. Surgical techniques can be split into two main groups: posterior pelvic fixation techniques and lumbopelvic fixation techniques.

What does sacral stress fracture feel like?

Vincent calls sacral stress fractures “masqueraders” because the pain they produce mimics that caused by other conditions, including sacroiliac or SI joint dysfunction. Like Seidel, many runners first feel discomfort they mistake for a strained glute muscle. Others report pain in the low back, groin, or hip.

How long does it take for a sacrum fracture to heal?

Can you walk with a broken sacrum?

A physician named Lourie first described sacral insufficiency fractures in 1982. These fractures can cause severe pain in the buttock, back, hip, groin, and/or pelvis. Walking is typically slow and painful. Many daily activities become painful, difficult, and in some cases impossible.