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What Is A Kyphoplasty (Or Balloon Vertebroplasty)?
Kyphoplasty is a minimally-invasive surgery that can restore a damaged vertebrae’s height and potentially reduce spinal pain. Vertebral fractures can cause somebody’s spine to shorten and can create a painful, hunched-over posture. A doctor may recommend a kyphoplasty procedure for patients who:
- Have painful compressed or collapsed vertebrae due to osteoporosis. These patients often experience increasingly more painful back pain and reduced ability to move which has an impact on their daily function and enjoyment of life. People with spinal pain due to osteoporosis can experience decreased lung capacity and difficulty sleeping.
- Have vertebrae damaged by a malignant tumor or cancer.
- Have certain spinal fractures.
In a vertebroplasty, a doctor uses an MRI or other imaging guidance to inject a cement mixture into the fractured bone. A kyphoplasty is also known as a balloon vertebroplasty because a balloon tamp is used to create a cavity or internal cast for a special cement mixture before being removed.
The bone cement mixture is used to create a strong foundation so that the patient’s vertebrae will not collapse again. In some instances, a net or a ball may be used in place of a balloon tamp. A doctor may choose to repeat the process on the other side of the vertebrae during the procedure to ensure uniformity and balance. The special cement mixture used in a kyphoplasty usually hardens in about 5 minutes.
The vertebroplasty technique was developed in France in 1984, and the special balloon tamp for a kyphoplasty procedure was approved by the FDA in 1998. Approximately 3 in every 4 patients who receive a kyphoplasty report being more active and regaining restored mobility. For best results, a kyphoplasty should be completed within eight weeks of the acute vertebral fracture.
What Is The Post-Kyphoplasty Recovery Process?
Most patients who receive a kyphoplasty can go home that same day following the procedure. However, your doctor may want to supervise your recovery as you stay overnight. Some patients can resume walking an hour after their procedure. Patients may feel soreness at the surgical site, but they can expect the soreness to subside after a few days. Patients who receive a kyphoplasty may notice that they feel significantly less pain than before the procedure. It is important to speak with your doctor about any activities or exercises you should avoid during your recovery process and take any medications, vitamins, or minerals as advised.
Am I A Candidate For Kyphoplasty?
If you think you could benefit from a kyphoplasty, speak to your doctor about the procedure and let them know if you are pregnant. Be sure to let your doctor know what medications you are taking and any allergies you have. Candidates for a kyphoplasty may be asked to stop taking aspirin, blood thinners, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before the procedure. To be a candidate for a kyphoplasty, your pain must be related to a vertebral fracture. Kyphoplasty is not recommended for and cannot treat arthritis, disk herniation, or stenosis. An imaging test, such as an MRI or x-ray is necessary to confirm the presence of a vertebral fracture. Patients with osteoporosis may undergo a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan.
If you are living with chronic pain and find that it is affecting your enjoyment of day-to-day life, it may be time to seek treatment and pain management. For patients located in the East Stroudsburg, PA area, the experts at MVM Health would be glad to offer guidance and a variety of treatment methods for chronic pain. Call 570-445-2200 to request an appointment.
