CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Individuals experiencing pain from vertebral compression fractures in the spine may benefit from a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive spine surgery called kyphoplasty. A unique procedure that repairs damaged vertebrae in the spine, kyphoplasty stabilizes the spinal fracture through the use of orthopedic balloons and bone cement.

Kyphoplasty can instantly reduce back pain and decrease the risk of serious health problems including difficulty breathing, limited mobility and future vertebral compression fractures at other locations in the spine. This procedure is commonly referred to as “vertebral augmentation” because it stabilizes bone in the spine and restores, or “augments,” lost vertebral height. It’s just one of the advanced treatment options available to chronic pain patients at Southwest Spine and Pain Center.

“Kyphoplasty can reduce people’s pain dramatically quite quickly,” Dr. Bryt Christensen, a pain management specialist at the clinic’s St. George – Red Hills location. “For that reason, it’s a very satisfying procedure for us to perform.” 

What conditions can kyphoplasty treat? 

In general, kyphoplasty is a treatment intended to relieve chronic pain due to severe vertebral compression fractures, which can be common with advanced osteoporosis. This condition causes bone to lose its density, mass and strength, which then leaves the skeletal structures porous and highly susceptible to fractures. Spinal compression fractures can occur in osteoporosis patients through even small movements, like sneezing or stumbling over uneven ground. 

Spinal compression fractures can also occur due to traumatic injuries of the spine, including those sustained during a fall from a considerable height or other impact injuries. 

Symptoms of a spinal compression fracture are varied but can include sudden and severe back pain, pain when twisting, pain when bending down, loss of range of motion and loss of spinal height, which can result in a hunchback. It should be noted that in some cases, pain is not sudden and severe, but may come on gradually and worsen over time.  

What is kyphoplasty?

Vertebral compression fractures are the most common type of spinal fracture and cannot heal on their own. If left untreated, these fractures can cause serious health problems, which is why stabilization surgery may be required. Kyphoplasty is generally performed while the patient is under conscious sedation and involves inserting and gently inflating a small balloon inside damaged vertebrae to administer medical-grade acrylic cement into the vertebral fracture.

The cement repairs damaged vertebral bone and generally provides long-term relief. However, for patients with a history of recurrent spinal fractures, an ongoing treatment plan may be needed to prevent future collapses and bone loss.  

What to expect during surgery

The patient will lie face down, and local anesthetic will be administered to reduce pain felt during the procedure. A small incision will be made at the appropriate level, through which the physician will insert a small balloon catheter and a fluoroscope, which projects a live X-ray image onto a screen to assist the medical team in visualizing the area of treatment.

As soon as the balloon is in place, the doctor will carefully inflate it to elevate the fracture. This not only returns the bone to a normal position and height but also creates a space inside the vertebrae. Once the balloon has been inflated to the maximum level, it will be deflated and removed. The pain doctor will then fill the cavity with medical-grade bone cement to restore bone height and stabilize the spine.

The procedure takes anywhere from 20-60 minutes depending on the number of fractures and their location within the spine. After surgery, patients will spend a short time in recovery before being allowed to return home.

Some patients experience immediate pain relief, while others will notice a reduction in pain symptoms two to three days after the procedure. Normal daily routines can usually resume three or four days after surgery. Heavy lifting and strenuous activities should be avoided until six weeks after surgery.

Risk and complications 

With any surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications. General surgical risks include infection or a reaction from the sedation or anesthesia. Risks specific to kyphoplasty may include an allergic reaction to the solution used for imaging purposes, leaking of the bone cement into the epidural space, nerve damage or injury and damage to the spinal cord. Because osteoporosis is a long-term, progressive disease, patients may require additional procedures to repair fractures in other areas of the spine. 

Benefits of kyphoplasty

Until the use of kyphoplasty and similar minimally invasive procedures, there were few treatment options for spinal compression fractures beyond bracing, medications and invasive spinal surgery. Kyphoplasty has many benefits, including short recovery time, minimal blood loss and short procedure time. Many patients are able to return to normal activities very quickly following the procedure. 

Recent studies have shown that kyphoplasty significantly reduces the risk of mortality in elderly patients following a spinal compression fracture – approximately 50% within the first year of the procedure and up to 20% as long as 10 years afterward.

“Very few medical procedures have those kind of dramatic results,” Christensen said. 

Are you a candidate for kyphoplasty?

Patients with moderate to severe chronic back pain from spinal fractures should consult the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center to determine if they’re a candidate for kyphoplasty. This procedure is usually recommended for those suffering from symptoms including chronic or severe pain, limited mobility, decreased lung capacity and difficulty sleeping.

Kyphoplasty may also be suggested to those with recent osteoporotic compression fractures that have occurred within the past eight weeks. Unfortunately, it cannot rectify previous and already-established spinal deformities. Moreover, certain types of osteoporosis may not qualify for treatment. 

Schedule a consultation at Southwest Spine and Pain Center to find out if you’re a candidate for kyphoplasty. With 15 locations in Utah and growing, the clinic’s pain management specialists are dedicated to helping those suffering from spine and chronic pain conditions.

“You’re in good hands with our board-certified physicians,” Christensen said. “We have great outcomes for patients.”

The physicians at Southwest Spine and Pain Center put the needs of their patients first and provide a wide variety of pain management therapies including injection treatments, minimally invasive surgery, medication management and complementary therapies. Call today to start living the life you want!

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Resources

• Southwest Spine and Pain Center | Address: 2891 E. Mall Drive, Suite 101, St. George | Telephone 435-656-2424 | Website.
• Other locations:
  • St. George – Red Hills: 301 N. 200 East, Suite 2A | Telephone: 435-688-7246.
  • Hurricane: 25 N. 2000 West, Suite 8 | Telephone: 435-635-0174.
  • Cedar City: 1303 N. Main St. | Telephone: 435-586-2229.

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