A Novel Treatment For Spine Fractures
A spine fracture—or vertebral compression fracture (VCF)—occurs when a bone within the spinal column weakens and collapses. Then can be a cause of great pain, and left untreated, can lead to more serious health problems and/ or permanent deformity.
Important statistics about spine fractures:
- 34,000,000 Americans have low bone mass, placing them at risk for osteoporosis.1
- Women are 4X more likely than men to develop osteoporosis1
- VCFs are the most common fracture in patients with osteoporosis, affecting 25% of all postmenopausal women and 40% of all women over 801
- Patients with a single thoracic vertebral compression are 5X more likely to suffer another fracture.1
- A single fracture at any vertebrae increases mortality risk by 15%2
Back braces, pain medication, and bed rest are traditional methods of treating vertebral compression fractures, but they do not address the root cause of the problem, nor do they provide lasting pain relief.
A new, minimally invasive treatment called Kyphoplasty is now available. It simultaneously repairs the fracture and restores height to the fractured vertebrae, and provides immediate relief of pain and other symptoms.
Kyphoplasty Procedure
Kyphoplasty (also called balloon kyphoplasty) is performed under local or general anesthesia. During the procedure, a very small insertion is made near the spine and a cannula is placed directly into the fractured vertebrae. A balloon is then inserted and inflated to correct the loss of height suffered during the fracture. The cavity made by the balloon is then filled with a fast-drying bone cement.
The procedure typically takes about 30 minutes for each fracture, and the patient is usually able to return home the same day. The vast majority of patients have reported that kyphoplasty provides immediate pain relief and has improved their quality of life.