How to treat and care for lumbar fractures?

The lumbar vertebra has the function of protecting the internal organs. Whether the lumbar vertebra is healthy is very important to people. In addition, the lumbar vertebra is also connected to the important nervous system. When the lumbar vertebra is fractured, it is very harmful to people. First of all, it may cause abnormal nerve conduction, which will lead to paralysis of the body. It also has a great psychological impact on the patient. When a lumbar fracture occurs, timely treatment should be carried out and care should be strengthened at ordinary times. First of all, the patient should maintain an optimistic and cheerful attitude and not cause too much psychological pressure. The patient should lie flat on the bed, preferably on a hard bed. At this time, certain other complications will appear, such as constipation, bedsores, etc., which require timely care and rehabilitation training.

1. Position The patient must lie flat

Sleep on a hard bed, do not use a pillow, and do not sit up to avoid flexion and twisting of the spine that may cause kyphosis or further injury. When turning over, you should turn over on an axial line, that is, turn over as a whole with your shoulders, waist and hips in a straight line.

2. Use of lumbar pillow

Place a pillow under the kyphosis of the injured vertebra, gradually raising it day by day to stretch it, which is conducive to the reduction of the compressed vertebra. The patient may not be used to the pillow at first and may experience abdominal pain and bloating. This should be explained to the patient in order to gain his cooperation.

3. Treatment of constipation and bloating

Constipation and abdominal distension are common after lying in bed. Caregivers should give the patient alternating clockwise and counterclockwise abdominal massage to promote intestinal peristalsis. In addition to calcium supplements, increase the intake of fruits and vegetables appropriately. In severe cases, take laxatives orally or insert enema into the rectum under the guidance of a doctor, and give enema if necessary.

4. Functional exercise

When the pain from the wound is relieved, you can start supine back extensor exercises, using your head, elbows and feet for support and lifting your abdomen, which is the "five-point" supported back extensor exercise. After one week, use the "three-point" support of the head and two feet to do back extensor exercises. After two weeks, change to prone position back extensor functional exercise. The method is: place the upper limbs on the waist and back, use the back extensor muscles to lift the head and lower limbs off the bed, like a swallow taking off, so it is called "flying swallow" exercise. Repeat several times a day, and persist for 5 to 10 minutes each time. This not only repositions the compressed vertebrae through flexion and extension of the anterior longitudinal ligament, but early activity can also reduce bone decalcification.