Kyphoplasty

What is kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure to treat a spinal fracture. The goal of kyphoplasty is to stabilize your bone, so you can find relief from chronic back pain. The procedure can also restore the height of your spinal vertebrae.

Compression fractures are often the result of osteoporosis, a condition that weakens your bones and causes the loss of bone density. As the vertebrae in your spine weaken, the pressure on your vertebra can lead to painful compression fractures and the eventual collapse of damaged vertebrae in your spine.

You might also be at increased risk for spine fractures due to:

• Tumors
• Injury
• Arthritis
• Age-related spine changes

The team at Advanced Pain Management can determine if you’re a candidate for kyphoplasty after a comprehensive evaluation of your spine health. They perform a physical exam of your spine and might request X-rays or other diagnostic imaging tests to evaluate the severity of your fracture.

What happens during kyphoplasty?

During kyphoplasty, your Advanced Pain Management surgeon makes a small incision in your back over the area of the spinal fracture. They use the guidance of fluoroscopy, a real-time X-ray technology, to guide a narrow tube into your spine.

Through the tube, your surgeon inserts a special balloon. By gently inflating this balloon, they can move the vertebrae pieces back into place. After removing the balloon, your surgeon uses special instruments to fill the restored cavity within your vertebrae with a medical-grade, cement-like material.

The material hardens quickly, fusing to your vertebrae. This provides rapid stabilization of your spine and can also restore your body height.

How long does it take to recover from kyphoplasty?

Depending on your needs, you might receive localized or general anesthesia. You can expect to spend some time in recovery to allow the sedative to wear off before you can go home.

Some people experience immediate pain relief, but it can take several days after a kyphoplasty to feel a significant reduction in pain.

You should be able to return to most of your usual activities, although you should refrain from heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for up to six weeks. Your Advanced Pain Management physician lets you know when it’s safe to resume all activities after checking the progress of your healing.

To find out if you’re a candidate for kyphoplasty, call the Advanced Pain Management office nearest you or book an appointment online today.