A Spinal fracture due to osteoporosis commonly referred to as a compression fracture. The term "wedge fracture" is used because the fracture usually occurs in the front of the vertebra, collapsing the bone in the front of the spine and leaving the back of the same bone unchanged. A wedge compression fracture is generally a mechanically stable fracture pattern. Spinal compression fractures that occurs as a results of osteoporosis are actually quite common.