Spinal Fracture Treatment in New Jersey
The Jey Institute provides personalized spinal fracture treatment in New Jersey, from bracing and minimally invasive kyphoplasty to surgical stabilization for unstable injuries.
Definition
What is a Spinal Fracture?
A spinal fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that stack up to form your spine, called vertebrae. Not all breaks are the same, and the type matters a great deal for how it gets treated.
- Compression fractures: the front of a vertebra collapses a little, like a box pressed down on one corner. These are the most common type and usually come from osteoporosis.
- Burst fractures: the vertebra breaks in several places at once from a hard impact, and fragments of bone can push back toward the spinal canal.
- Fracture-dislocations: the bones break and shift out of position. These are unstable and often come with nerve injury.
- Pathologic fractures: bone already weakened by a tumor, by cancer that has spread, or by infection gives way under normal load.
Some of these heal well with time and support. Others need surgery to hold the spine in place and protect the nerves. Telling them apart is the entire point of the workup.
How do you know if you have a Spinal Fracture?
Symptoms depend on where the fracture sits and whether the spinal cord or nearby nerves are affected.
Weakness in a limb and any loss of bladder or bowel control are the ones to act on fast. Both point to possible nerve or spinal cord involvement, which means you need to be seen right away, not next week.
- Sudden, sharp back or neck pain
- Pain that worsens when you move and eases when you lie still
- Loss of height, or a visible curve or hump forming in the back
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
- Changes in bladder or bowel control in severe injuries
- Tenderness right over the spot that broke
- Trouble standing or walking
Causes
What are the common causes of Spinal Fractures?
The cause usually points toward the treatment, so it’s one of the first things we sort out.
- Trauma, such as car accidents, falls, and sports injuries
- Osteoporosis, the most common cause in older adults
- Spinal tumors or cancer that has spread to the bone
- Infections that weaken the vertebrae
- High-impact sports and hard falls
- Long-term steroid use, which can thin the bone over time
The force it takes varies a lot with age. In younger people, a spinal fracture usually takes real force.
In older adults with osteoporosis, it can take almost none, sometimes just a minor stumble.
Dr. J explained everything in a simplified way that made me very comfortable, and his staff went above and beyond.
When to reach out
When should you seek care for a Spinal Fracture?
Some spinal fractures are emergencies. If you’ve had a serious injury and now feel numbness, weakness in your arms or legs, or any change in bladder or bowel control, go to the ER right away.
These can be signs that the spinal cord or nerves are involved, and they shouldn’t wait.
How do we diagnose Spinal Fractures?
A good diagnosis has to pin down two things: where the fracture is, and whether it’s stable enough to heal without surgery. We use a few tools together to find out.
- Physical exam and history: we focus on how the injury happened and check for tenderness, deformity, and any nerve symptoms.
- X-rays: a quick first look that shows the location and rough shape of the fracture.
- CT scan: a detailed view of the bone that reveals burst patterns and fragments an X-ray can miss.
- MRI: the clearest look at the soft tissues, ligaments, nerves, and spinal cord. It can also tell a fresh fracture from an old one.
- DEXA scan: a bone-density test we order when osteoporosis is the likely cause, because treating the weak bone matters as much as treating the break.
How do we treat Spinal Fractures?
01
Assessment and stabilization
02
Conservative care for stable fractures
03
Surgical stabilization
Common procedures that we perform to treat Spinal Fractures
Anterior & Lateral Lumbar Fusion
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) are techniques that access the lumbar spine through the front or side of the body rather than through the back.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Considering an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in New Jersey? Learn how the procedure works, who may be a candidate, and what to expect before and after surgery.
Lumbar Microdiscectomy / Laminectomy
Considering a lumbar microdisectomy or laminectomy in New Jersey? Learn how the procedure works, who may be a candidate, and what to expect before and after surgery.
Can we treat your Spinal Fracture?
We treat the full range of spinal fractures: fresh trauma, fractures that were missed or undertreated elsewhere, and the osteoporotic fractures that become so common later in life. The Jey Institute provides spinal fractures treatment New Jersey residents can reach from across the region.
You may be a candidate for evaluation if:
- You have a confirmed spinal fracture and need a surgical opinion
- Your fracture is unstable, or comes with numbness or weakness
- You have an osteoporotic compression fracture that might benefit from a minimally invasive procedure
- You were referred for a second opinion, or have a complex case involving a tumor or infection
Dr. Shiveindra Jeyamohan, MD.
Chief Surgeon & Medical Director
Meet the clinical lead
Why choose the Jey Institute to treat your Spinal Fracture
At the Jey Institute, we treat spinal fractures with the least invasive approach the injury allows, using microscopic and minimally invasive techniques to stabilize the spine while sparing healthy tissue.
We build each plan around the fracture type, your bone health, and your goals, and we follow the healing with imaging to confirm the spine mends in the right position.
- 5,000+ Patients served
- 2,000+ Spine surgeries performed
Common questions about Spinal Fractures
Will my fracture heal on its own?
Often, yes. Many stable fractures heal with time and support. The catch is that they need to be watched closely to make sure they heal in the right position. If a fracture sets with the spine bent out of shape, that deformity can cause real problems down the road, so follow-up imaging matters even when surgery isn’t needed.
Can osteoporotic fractures recur?
Yes, especially if the osteoporosis itself goes untreated. Fixing one fracture doesn’t strengthen the rest of the bone, so managing the underlying bone loss is a key part of preventing the next one.
How long do I need to wear a brace?
For most stable fractures, about three to four months. The exact time depends on the fracture and how well it’s healing on your follow-up scans.
What is kyphoplasty and am I a candidate?
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure for painful osteoporotic compression fractures. We inject bone cement (called PMMA) into the fractured vertebra to stabilize it and relieve the pain. Good candidates usually have a recent compression fracture that’s still painful despite rest and medication, and the only way to know for sure is an evaluation with imaging.
When is surgery necessary?
Surgery becomes necessary when a fracture won’t heal on its own, when the deformity is getting worse, when nerves are involved, or when the pain stays severe despite other treatment. Any one of those can be reason enough.
Spinal Fracture treatment nearby
West Orange, NJ
414 Eagle Rock Ave,
West Orange, NJ 07052
Suite 304
Dover, NJ
50 Nelson St.
Dover NJ 07801
East Brunswick, NJ
180 Tices Lane
East Brunswick NJ 08816
Suite 106
Hamilton, NJ
311 Whitehorse Ave.,
Hamilton Township, NJ
08610
Little Silver, NJ
200 White Road,
Little Silver, NJ 07739
Suite 111
Clifton, NJ
735 Clifton Avenue
Clifton NJ 07013
Real reviews from our past patients
“Dr. J was attentive, listened to me and showed that he truly cared about my problems. He explained in details and offered me expert opinions. I love that he treats patients as individual and truly listens.”
Bernice
“After being unhappy with my spine surgeon, I found Dr. J. He explained exactly what was wrong with me, made a game plan, and had his team help out in scheduling. Once he found where the problem was, he got me scheduled, did excellent work, and I was home in a couple days. The scar is WAY SMALLER than my original surgery, which wasn’t even as big! He really is a minimally invasive expert and my recovery was way faster!”
Eddie
“I’ve had 5 different operations on my back in the last decade. Dr. J did number 6. His scar was the smallest, least amount of pain, and for the first time after any surgery I went home the same day. Maybe I’m just getting used to surgery lol!”
Steve W.
“No doubt in my mind Dr. Jeyamohan saved my life.”
Steven C.
“Thank You from the bottom of my heart for getting my active lifestyle back- I’m so happy with the outcome- thank u for being honest about the pain I would experience in the first month of recovery- your bedside manner in the hospital was excellent – your PA Andrea was amazing as well- I would recommend Evergreen Health to everyone and my team of docs was super- Thank U Dr J, Dr Nora, and Dr Ting!! Feels amazing to be standing tall with great posture everyday I’m getting stronger”
Michelle G.
“Kind and thorough. Top quality and felt safe throughout.”
Verified Patient
“Took the time to explain my pictures and what was wrong with me, and gave me many different options. Answered every single one of my questions and even a few over the phone. Went home the same day and on my way to a full recovery! Office is clean, bright, and everyone was super friendly and helpful! Andrea his assistant has been a treasure!”
Verified Patient
“Incredibly thorough, took his time to explain and answer all my questions. Gave me plenty of options. I probably visited with him three or four times before committing to surgery, never once did he rush me. Saw me every day in the hospital, walked with me. I’m so thankful I had the surgery with him. I saw two other spine surgeons who didn’t even want to take on such a complicated operation but Dr. J did incredible work and I’m back to walking on my own! I don’t even need a cane anymore”
Verified Patient
“First, the office was not good. Getting an appointment, scheduling, paperwork, was a nightmare. But once I got in to see Dr. J, it was smooth sailing! He got me the tests I needed, talked to me about treatment options, and helped me set up an injection. We talked about different surgeries, got me scheduled, did great work, and made sure I had follow-up appointments. I’m back to the farm ahead of schedule and back to work. If only I could have got in to see him sooner.”
Verified Patient
“I have to be honest here and own up. I saw three different spine surgeons and was worried “Dr. Jey” as everyone calls him was too young. I went with someone else who fused three levels in my back. I did horribly with lots of complications. After getting over all my issues, I swallowed my pride and went back to Dr. Jey. He never made me feel bad and graciously took a look at everything, ordered more tests, and showed me what was going on. Bad news, he says he couldn’t undo the fusion. Worse news, it’s now an even bigger operation to fix, and he was honest and said the best we can do is try to get me…”
Verified Patient
“My experience was excellent. Dr J is very knowledgeable explained everything in a simplified way that made me very comfortable. His staff went above and beyond answer any question I had No matter what the question was. I can’t thank Dr J and his staff enough For helping me get through this spine Injury.”
Jim D.
“I am a 45 year old male who led an active lifestyle when a back injury changed my life. I went from working and being active with my 4 children to suddenly I couldn’t make any movement without excruciating pain. The type of pain I can’t even explain in words. I went to see Dr. Jeyamohan on the referral of my sister who is a physician as well. When I walked into the office the team had already looked at my MRI and explained to me in honest terms that we had an emergency situation on our hands and that delaying surgery was simply not an option. Dr. Jeyamohan Made calls and got me scheduled for emergency back surgery right…”
Eric F.