Are you struggling with back pain due to vertebral fractures? Kyphoplasty surgery can help. This minimally invasive procedure is designed to relieve pain and restore spinal function, allowing you to return to your daily activities with ease.
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgery for vertebral compression fractures. A vertebral compression fracture occurs when one of the bones in the spine, known as a vertebra, collapses. This collapse can lead to severe pain, a decrease in height, and spinal deformities. Such fractures are often caused by conditions that weaken the bones, including:
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, making them brittle. As a result, they become more likely to fracture, even from minor stresses or activities.
- Tumors: Tumors are abnormal growths that can weaken the bones in the spine. This increases the risk of fractures.
- Spinal injuries: Trauma from accidents, falls, or sports injuries that can cause the vertebrae to collapse.
During this procedure, the physician will utilize x-ray guidance to place a needle in the fractured vertebrae. A balloon is threaded through the needle and then inflated in the vertebrae, creating space to restore the height of the collapsed vertebra. Once the proper height is achieved, the balloon is removed. The space is then filled with a special bone cement. This cement hardens quickly, stabilizing the vertebra and providing immediate support.
Why Consider Kyphoplasty For Compression Fractures?
Kyphoplasty can be helpful if you suffer from back pain caused by a vertebral fracture. Whether the fracture is due to osteoporosis, tumors, or spinal injuries, the following are the benefits of kyphoplasty:
Targeted Relief And Nerve Decompression
A vertebra collapse can narrow the spaces where the spinal nerves pass, placing pressure on them.
Additionally, bone fragments from the fracture can shift out of place, further pressing on the nerves and disrupting their normal function. Compressed nerves can become inflamed and irritated. This pressure can block the normal flow of signals along the nerve.
As a result, nerve compression can lead to tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in the affected area.
Kyphoplasty helps restore the height and shape of the vertebra. The procedure relieves pressure on the surrounding nerves by directly targeting the fractured vertebra. This focused approach helps alleviate symptoms caused by nerve compression.
Spinal Alignment Improvement
When a vertebra fractures and collapses, it can cause the spine to become misaligned. This misalignment can lead to an abnormal spinal posture, causing pain and discomfort. When the balloon is inserted and inflated during the procedure, it helps restore the height and shape of the collapsed vertebra.
As a result, kyphoplasty corrects the spinal curvature caused by the fracture. This can lead to better posture, improved mobility, and reduced pain.
Fracture Stabilization
After the balloon is removed, the space is filled with bone cement. The bone cement hardens quickly, within minutes, stabilizing the vertebra. This hardened cement provides immediate support to the fractured vertebra.
As a result, it will prevent further collapse and reduce movement. This stabilization helps relieve pain, improve mobility, and prevent further spinal deformity.
Prevention Of Further Complications
Kyphoplasty stabilizes the fractured vertebra and restores its strength. This reduces the risk of future fractures and helps keep the spine properly aligned. Relieving pressure on surrounding nerves minimizes the risk of nerve compression. Improved spinal stability and also makes it easier to resume daily activities. As a result, kyphoplasty can lead to better long-term outcomes.
Minimally Invasive
Kyphoplasty is considered minimally invasive. This is because it does not require significant surgical cuts. Instead, the procedure involves small incisions to complete. This approach is beneficial for the following reasons:
- Reduced risk of complications: Smaller incisions lower the risk of complications like infection.
- Less pain: Patients often experience less post-operative pain. This is due to the smaller incisions and reduced tissue damage.
- Faster recovery: Because the incisions are so small, patients experience faster healing. This enables patients to return to their normal activities sooner.
- Shorter hospital stay: Many patients can go home the same day or after a short hospital stay. As a result, they spend less overall time in the hospital.
- Less scarring: Smaller incisions result in less noticeable scars. This can be beneficial for cosmetic reasons.
When Kyphoplasty Is Recommended As A Treatment
Even as a minimally invasive procedure, you might hesitate to undergo kyphoplasty. After all, any surgery can seem daunting.
However, kyphoplasty can significantly improve spinal function and improve your quality of life. This makes it an attractive option for many patients. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for you. The following factors may indicate that you could be a candidate for kyphoplasty:
- Gradually worsening back pain symptoms: If your back pain has been getting worse, you should consider the procedure. This is especially true if you have tried other treatment options that have not worked.
- Vertebral collapse ranging from 30% to 70%: This level of collapse is significant. As a result, significant compression may have occurred. Kyphoplasty can stabilize and restore vertebrae that have collapsed by this amount.
- The fracture occurred within the last three months: Kyphoplasty works best on recent fractures. This is because the bone is more likely to respond well to the procedure.
- The fracture is not caused by a bone infection: The procedure is not suitable if the fracture is caused by a bone infection. Inserting materials could make the infection worse.
Conditions That Benefit From Kyphoplasty Treatment At NextPain Care
Several conditions can benefit from kyphoplasty. NextPain Care recommends the procedure for the following conditions:
