Vertebral compression fractures can cause significant pain and reduced mobility for many individuals. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat these spinal fractures by stabilizing the bone and restoring some of the lost vertebral height. This medical intervention relieves pain, and it may allow patients to return to their daily activities sooner than other conservative treatments. Here is more information about kyphoplasty, how it works, and what benefits it provides:
Understanding Kyphoplasty Procedures
Kyphoplasty is a procedure that involves the surgical stabilization of a fractured vertebra. A physician inserts a specialized balloon into the damaged bone to create a cavity; then, they fill that void with bone cement. The bone cement then hardens and stabilizes the fractured vertebra. Because the balloon is used to restore height before the injection, this technique differs from vertebroplasty.
Treating Specific Conditions
Doctors recommend this surgery for fractures caused by specific underlying issues. Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak, and this condition is one common cause of the compression fractures treated by this method. Although the procedure mostly targets fractures from osteoporosis, it also addresses fractures resulting from other tumors and other conditions.
Common candidates for this surgery include patients with:
- Osteoporosis-related fractures
- Tumor-induced bone weakness
- Traumatic spinal injuries
- Multiple myeloma
Explaining Surgical Processes
The patient typically lies face down on an operating table for the duration of the surgery. General anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation is administered as pain prevention, so the patient remains comfortable throughout the operation. Because precision is necessary, a surgeon guides a hollow needle, called a trocar, into the fractured vertebra using a type of X-ray called fluoroscopy.
Once the trocar is in place, the doctor inserts the balloon into it and inflates the balloon to elevate the collapsed bone. Inflating the balloon creates a cavity within the vertebral body, and the surgeon fills this space with polymethylmethacrylate, or PMMA, cement. The cement hardens and stabilizes the bone. The procedure is typically complete in about an hour.
Observation follows the completion of the surgery, and patients typically spend a few hours in a recovery room. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, most individuals go home the same day. At your follow-up appointment, your provider will give you instructions about when returning to activities like heavy lifting.
Reviewing Patient Benefits
Significant pain reduction occurs immediately for some patients and within 48 hours for others. The pain you may experience from the procedure should subside in two to three days. The stabilization of the fracture eliminates the microscopic motion that causes discomfort, and this relief may allow for a reduction in pain medication usage.
Restoring vertebral height corrects spinal deformity. Kyphosis refers to the hunchback curve that results from collapsed vertebrae, and this procedure helps reverse that curvature. Because the spine is straighter, improved posture aids in breathing and digestion. Kyphoplasty can help some patients restore their mobility.
Learn More About Kyphoplasty
Vertebral compression fractures do not have to result in permanent disability or chronic discomfort. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive option, and it stabilizes the bone, reduces pain, and can restore mobility. If you want to learn more about the benefits of kyphoplasty, consult a spine specialist near you.
