Osteoporosis and Kyphoplasty Treatment Options for Vertebral Fractures

This is National Osteoporosis Month, designated to raise awareness about bone health and encourage individuals to identify risks and make any necessary lifestyle changes. The National Osteoporosis Foundation offers wise guidance on adopting a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and foods with calcium and vitamin D. Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise also can help prevent fractures and maintain peak bone mass.

A healthy spine is so important because it fosters pain-free movement and supports your head, shoulders and pelvis. It protects your central nervous system within the spinal cord – in effect, playing a pivotal role in the healthy function of every organ, tissue and cell in the body. Any serious degradation of just a single vertebrae can cause continuous, significant pain impacting your quality of life.

A “compression fracture” occurs when vertebrae start to compress or collapse causing pain and decreased motion.

Minimally invasive surgery called kyphoplasty can help – and is offered by Advanced Pain Care. The procedure usually takes less than an hour and recovery time less than 48 hours. A hospital stay and physical therapy usually are unnecessary.

Here’s how it works:

• Aided by low-level X-ray imaging, a thin, hollow needle is guided into the correct position inside the vertebrae.
• An uninflated balloon is inserted through the needle, then inflated to create space and reinflate the collapsed vertebrae.
• A cement-like mixture (medical grade) is injected to fill up the space, and surgeons use imaging tests that guide them so the mixture is distributed properly.
• Once in place, the needle is removed, and the area is bandaged. No stitches are required because of the small incision. Patients are encouraged to walk as soon as possible and can resume exercise in a matter of weeks.

Don’t be frightened by “cement-like.” The mixture is sturdy enough to repair a fractured bone.

First, nonsurgical measures should be explored. But if the spine appears unstable or a compression fracture has occurred, kyphoplasty can be a good solution.

So this month, consider contacting Advanced Pain Care to see if kyphoplasty can improve your quality of life.