Procedural Overview

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For patients ailing from spinal compression fractures, a minimally invasive procedure called Kyphoplasty is recommended – it is also known as vertebral augmentation. Spinal compression can happen due to multiple conditions like osteoporosis, injuries, and various types of cancers degenerating the vertebrates. There can be serious consequences of spinal compression fractures if left untreated. The conditions arising out of it include constricted mobility, depression, severe pain, humped back, and even premature death in the most extreme cases. A person due to spinal compression is tilted forward in a wedge-like shape and is not able to gain proper posture.

 

Kyphoplasty Is a perfect procedure to treat this painful condition as it has many benefits such as:

• It needs a very short time to complete (this also depends upon the number of vertebrates affected).

• Immediate relaxation in the pain is observed.

• The risks of side-effects and complications are less.

• Bone stabilization is immediately achieved.

 

Kyphoplasty is very much like Vertebroplasty. The difference is that in vertebroplasty a hollow needle injects cement into the compressed bone, whereas in Kyphoplasty, a balloon is first inserted inside the pressed vertebrate and is inflated for the cement to be injected. This process has to be performed for each individual vertebra. Once the cement solution is set, the patient is able to stand straight. There is also relaxation in the pain and the possibility of further fractures is also reduced.

 

At Dunes Pain Specialists, our expert physicians will sedate you before performing Kyphoplasty and the procedure site will be sterilized with disinfectants. A local anesthetic drug is administered before inserting the balloon into the bone. The bones are drilled, and the balloon is inflated to make the bone reach its normal height prior to the injection of the cement. The balloons are then withdrawn after deflation and the cement is filled carefully so that it does not spill in the vicinity. The cement is then allowed to “set”, giving strength to the weak bones which are prone to fractures. The surgeon will be continuously monitoring the needle position through X-Ray fluoroscopy.

 

For a single vertebrate, this procedure will take 1 hour, but if multiple vertebrates are involved then the entire process can go for hours. The patient is kept under observation after the procedure in the recovery room – sometimes overnight.

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After Care

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The Dunes Pain physician in the recovery room will monitor vitals like blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, and if any pain is there. You will have to lie straight for one to two hours so that the cement is set. Patients might be kept for overnight observation and are discharged the next morning.

 

The physician might advise you to not pick weights or do strenuous activities for 2 to 3 weeks – driving also might not be allowed for a couple of days. The patient will have to keep the incision area clean and avoid soaking it in water.
All instructions will be explained and doubts clarified. However, if you experience any adverse reactions like fever, allergy, infections, and swelling – contact Dunes Pain Specialists immediately.