Kyphoplasty – What to Expect from the Procedure
Find Relief for Your Compression Fracture with Kyphoplasty Treatment
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is performed to treat individuals with spinal compression fractures. The goal of this treatment is to reduce pain while increasing mobility. Unlike vertebroplasty, which is a similar surgical technique, kyphoplasty also attempts to restore height by correcting abnormal curvatures of the spine. Compression fractures commonly appear in older adults with osteoporosis and can also be the result of other causes of trauma such as sports injuries, car accidents or even tumors that have originated from the spine and spread to the surrounding bone. In these cases, kyphoplasty may become the recommended course of treatment, if symptoms have not improved after a trial of non-surgical treatment methods.
It is important to note that for compression fractures, surgery is indicated when the pain interferes with activities of daily living and the ability to sleep.
What a Kyphoplasty Involves and How it is Performed
While many fractures will eventually heal on their own, a compression fracture can cause painful symptoms as shattered bone fragments constantly rub against each other. This is where kyphoplasty treatment becomes extremely useful. Read on to learn more about what a kyphoplasty procedure involves and how it is performed:
- Also known as balloon vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that requires a doctor to inject a cement mixture into the vertebra to stabilize the area and restore strength.
- A tiny incision is made over the affected area and using an x-ray for guidance, a doctor will insert a thin tube through your connective tissue and into the side of the fractured vertebra.
- A balloon is then placed through the tube and into the fractured vertebra. The balloon is inflated to form an open space and restore the collapsed vertebra to its original height.
- The balloon is then deflated and removed, where the cavity is filled with the cement mixture via a specialized needle. Once injected, the mixture quickly hardens in order to provide stability to the fracture.
- This procedure is a short-term surgery and does not typically require a hospital stay.
- Kyphoplasty has been implemented into medical practice for over 20 years and is meant to reduce pain, improve mobility, restore natural bone shape and stabilize the spine.
If you are experiencing back pain due to a compression fracture, it’s time to seek medical advice and care from the professionals at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic. With over 30 years of experience teaching and practicing medicine, Dr. Lewis is an expert neurosurgeon who, over the span of his career, has routinely performed kyphoplasty treatments and other minimally-invasive procedures on patients with great success. If it is determined that kyphoplasty is right for you, Dr. Lewis can safely and effectively perform the procedure right here at our treatment center. In addition to kyphoplasty, we also provide several other highly-advanced treatment options to address your back pain and improve your overall quality of life. Also, we proactively treat osteoporosis to prevent fractures.
If you want to learn more about the kyphoplasty procedure and how it can help you, contact us today at (601) 366-1011 to make an appointment for a consultation. You can also request an appointment online. We’ll find a solution that works for you!