Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive spine surgery used to stabilize vertebral compression fractures. During the procedure, your spine specialist identifies the fractured vertebrae and injects medical bone cement. In a balloon kyphoplasty, similar to a vertebroplasty, your doctor uses a special balloon called a bone tamp to enlarge the fracture. The extra space created helps your doctor insert enough bone cement to boost the stabilization.

Vertebral bones carry the weight of your body. If they suffer excessive compression pressure, they fracture. The collapse of a vertebral body causes debilitating pain and limits your flexibility. To prevent further damage to your spine, get an early diagnosis from a board certified spinal surgeon like those at Premier Brain & Spine. This spine and pain center has the best spine specialists in New Jersey and New York. They perform complex spine surgery procedures, including:

• Kyphoplasty surgery
• Spinal fusion
• Corpectomy
• Laminectomy
• Discectomy or microdiscectomy
• Minimally invasive laminectomy and foraminotomy

Kyphoplasty procedure is a life-changing spinal surgery. It treats a wide range of symptoms associated with compression fractures, including if you:

• Suffer debilitating back pain that gets worse with movement
• Notice a decrease in your height
• Have difficulty moving your back without pain
• Receive a diagnosis of kyphosis in its early stages
• Have symptoms of spinal nerve damage, such as tingling and muscle weakness
• Suffered a spinal compression fracture caused by osteoporosis
• Discover spinal tumors as a cause of the fractures

The kyphoplasty procedure effectively treats compression fractures. It lasts about one hour for each fractured vertebra. The main steps involved in kyphoplasty include:

1. Preparation. Before the procedure, your spine specialist examines your medical history and carries out a physical exam. If you smoke or are on blood thinners, your doctor advises you to stop. Then you discuss the details of the surgery and what to expect during your recovery.
2. Before surgery. On the day of the surgery, wear loose-fitting clothes. At the doctor’s office, you lie face down on a padded table while the team preps the site of incision. You’re then sedated under general anesthesia for the procedure.
3. Incision. Your spinal surgeon makes a tiny incision on your back where a special tube passes through up to the fractured vertebrae. For precision, the doctor uses x-ray guidance.
4. Balloon kyphoplasty. Your specialist then pushes a bone tamp through the tube to the fracture. As the balloon inflates, it enlarges the cavity, restoring any lost height.
5. Injection of bone cement. Next, your doctor injects a cement-like material into the cavity, which hardens quickly and stabilizes the fractured bone.

The procedure is delicate and requires specialized training and knowledge. Your spinal specialist at the New Jersey orthopedics ambulatory surgery center has the experience, the technique and the equipment to successfully complete the procedure.

Your recovery from the kyphoplasty procedure depends on your individual diagnosis and the complexity of the procedure. Some factors affecting your recovery include:

• The number of vertebral bones that have compression fractures, which determines the extent of the procedure and your recovery time
• Your overall health, as good health translates to a fast recovery, when you can resume normal activities in a few days
• Following your surgeon’s instructions after surgery means your recovery is faster and the outcome better
• Taking it slowly and avoiding strenuous activities that may interfere with your healing
• Complications that may include sharp pain and other severe symptoms

Your NJ ortho doctor explains the complications to watch out for. If you notice any, contact your spinal surgeon immediately. The spinal specialists at Premier Brain & Spine provide follow-up care, including further appointments, to make sure you’re healing properly.

The choice between kyphoplasty vs. vertebroplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures depends on multiple factors. Your diagnosis and the advice of your doctor are two crucial factors. The difference between the two procedures include:

• The vertebroplasty procedure involves direct injection of bone cement into the fractured vertebral bone.
• Kyphoplasty uses an inflatable balloon, which creates a cavity for the bone cement.
• The enlargement in kyphoplasty surgery improves the chances of height restoration and corrects kyphosis.
• Vertebroplasty’s main goal is to relieve your pain and to prevent further loss of your body height.
• Kyphoplasty is a more advanced procedure with additional treatment advantages.

If you have any symptoms of compression fractures, contact the spinal specialists at Premier Brain & Spine. These spine specialists use the most advanced medical equipment and the latest techniques to perform successful spinal surgeries.