Balloon Kyphoplasty

Balloon Kyphoplasty surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat vertebral compression fractures caused by weakened bones.

What are Vertebral Compression Fractures?

Vertebral compression fractures, or VCF’s, occur when bones in the spine are broken. They can occur from trauma, such as a car accident or fall, but are most commonly the result of osteoporosis which causes weakened bones. VCF’s can also occur from other conditions that cause weakened bones, such as certain cancers or long term steroid use.

Compression fractures occur most commonly in the mid to lower back due to the weight bearing load of the spine. This load can cause vertebrae to become crushed when bone weakness is present. When the vertebra is crushed, it fractures and falls on top of the vertebra below it. Symptoms range from severe pain to no pain at all. Compression fractures can lead to progressive spinal deformity. When multiple fractures occur, a condition known as Kyphosis, or dowager’s hump, causes the back to become rounded and bent forward. This forward curvature of the spine can affect quality of life making it more difficult to breathe, eat, walk, or sleep.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a degenerative condition associated with aging that causes loss of bone mass. This leads to weakened and brittle bones that break easily by minimal trauma or by no trauma at all. Osteoporosis is most common in post-menopausal women but can also occur in older men or patients on long term steroid therapy.

Balloon Kyphoplasty Indications

Balloon Kyphoplasty Surgery is an elective surgery to treat painful compression fractures of the spine that have not responded to conservative treatment measures such as rest, medication, or back bracing.

Indications for Balloon Kyphoplasty surgery include:

. Vertebral Compression Fractures due to osteoporosis.

. Vertebral Compression fractures caused by weakened bones in patients with diagnoses such as Metastatic cancer, kidney disease, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

. Severe pain and deformity related to a vertebral fracture that is unrelieved by conservative treatments such as pain medications and bracing.

Diagnosis

Evaluating the source of back pain is critical in determining your options for relief of the pain and the location of where to perform surgery.

Your surgeon will perform the following:

. Medical History

. Physical Examination

Diagnostic Studies to confirm a vertebral fracture and its cause may include:

. X-rays: a form of electromagnetic radiation that is used to take pictures of bones.

. MRI: magnetic and radio waves are used to create a computer image of soft tissue such as nerves and ligaments.

. CT Scan: This test creates 3D images from multiple x-rays and shows your physician spinal structures not seen on regular x-ray.

. Bone Density Test: A test used to diagnose osteoporosis using special x-rays to determine bone density or strength.

Surgical Procedure

Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to alleviate severe pain and disability resulting from vertebral compression fractures.

The ultimate goal of the surgery is to:

. Alleviate or reduce the patient’s pain

. Restore the fractured vertebra to its pre-fracture height

. Improve spine functionality

. Restore normal alignment of the spine

Article Source: More Information