[Conservative Treatment of Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebral Fractures - what's it all about?].

The basis for assessing thoracolumbar vertebral body fractures are two established classification systems. Important, especially in terms of further treatment, is the distinction between osteoporotic and healthy bones. The AO Spine classification offers a comprehensive tool for healthy bones to reliably specify the morphological criterias (alignment, integrity of the intervertebral disc, fragment separation, stenosis of the spinal canal). In addition to the fracture morphology, the OF classification for osteoporotic fractures includes patient-specific characteristics to initiate adequate therapy. In general an adequate pain therapy is required for early rehabilitation. While in the bone healthy population, physiotherapy reduces the risk of muscle deconditioning, in the osteoporotic population it additionally serves to prevent subsequent fractures. Unlike osteoporotic patients, bone healthy patients with vertebral fractures should not undergo a corset/orthosis treatment.