Compression Fractures of the Spine

Don’t let compression fractures steal your independence. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that stabilizes the spine with little risk and downtime.

Kyphoplasty for Compression Fractures

Compression fractures are small cracks in the vertebrae that occur when your bones are weak from osteoporosis. They often present as a sudden, sharp pain in the middle or lower back. It can happen from lifting something heavy, a bump, a fall or even a minor event like a sneeze,. The pain may come and go, getting worse when you are active and better when you lie down. Over time, the vertebrae begin to collapse, pressing on spinal nerves and eventually causing you to lose height or develop a “hunchback.”

Symptoms of compression fractures

Signs and symptoms include:

• Sudden onset of pain
• Pain in the back, arms or legs
• Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs
• Increased pain while standing or walking
• Decreased pain while lying on your back
• Reduced spinal mobility
• Eventual loss of height
• Eventual deformity and disability

Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive treatment for compression fracture

Conservative treatment for compression fractures may offer some relief, but it doesn’t address the problem and doesn’t prevent the spine from collapsing which causes height loss, hunching, and eventual deformity. Patients are often told that the only other option is spinal fusion surgery which comes with a lengthy set of risks. At CiC, we offer you another option: kyphoplasty. Using revolutionary techniques, we are able to safely and effectively stabilize compression fractures with, a poke, a stitchand little to no downtime.

What to expect

Through a small nick in the skin, a CiC specialist will insert a balloon catheter and guide it to the compromised vertebra using x-ray fluoroscopy. Once there, the balloon is inflated to separate the bones and relieve pressure on spinal nerves. The space created by the balloon is filled with medical grade cement, stabilizing and strengthening the bone as well as restoring spinal shape and height. This relieves symptoms and protects the spine from further deterioration.

Benefits of kyphoplasty

Many patients prefer kyphoplasty because it is a long-term solution to the ongoing problems associated with compression fracture without the pain, risks, and downtime of spinal fusion surgery.

Benefits include:

• In-office procedure with no hospital stay required
• Patients go home with only minor discomfort
• Resume normal activities in one to two days
• Relief of pain and neurological symptoms without medication
• Corrects spinal height and curvature
• Prevents further degradation of the spine that can lead to deformity

Contact our office to learn more.