
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure used to treat vertebral compression fractures or VCFs. It helps relieve pain and restore the original height of the collapsed vertebrae, which can help improve posture and mobility for those who suffer from VCFs. Let’s take a closer look at what kyphoplasty entails.
What Is a Vertebral Compression Fracture?
Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) occurs when the vertebrae in the spine become weak or brittle due to age, trauma, or medical conditions such as osteoporosis. This can cause the vertebrae to collapse or fracture, resulting in chronic pain and reduced mobility. Kyphoplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure that helps alleviate VCF-related pain and restore spinal alignment.
How Does Kyphoplasty Work?
During kyphoplasty, an interventional radiologist inserts a balloon into the affected vertebrae through a small incision. The balloon is slowly inflated to create space inside the vertebrae so that it can be filled with specialized cement. This cement hardens quickly and restores stability while also providing relief from painful symptoms. Once the area has been stabilized, doctors may use X-rays or CT scans to confirm that proper alignment has been restored.
What Are the Benefits of Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty offers many benefits over traditional open surgery for treating VCFs. Since it is minimally invasive, patients experience less discomfort during and after their procedures compared to open surgery. As well, since kyphoplasty does not involve cutting muscle or bone tissue, patients benefit from shorter recovery times and fewer risks of complications such as infection or blood loss. Additionally, kyphoplasty can help reduce chronic pain caused by VCFs almost immediately after treatment—in some cases even before patients leave the hospital!
Summary
Kyphoplasty is a safe and effective way to treat vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). By restoring vertebral height and alignment while relieving pain in an outpatient setting with minimal risk of complications, kyphoplasty offers many advantages over traditional open surgeries for treating these conditions. If you are suffering from chronic back pain due to a VCF, speak to your doctor about whether kyphoplasty might be right for you!