The vertebrae are a series of bones that make up the spine. When one fractures , it can put pressure on surrounding nerves. This can cause intense pain and disability. The bones may be repaired with these procedures.
Both procedures are used to decrease pain from a vertebral fracture. Kyphoplasty also restores the height of the bone. This can decrease the spinal deformity caused by the fracture.
Other treatment for vertebral fracture may include nonsurgical treatments, such as bed rest, bracing, and pain medicines.
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, your doctor will review a list of possible complications which may include:
Your doctor may feel that the risks of these procedures are too great if you have:
If you have vertebral fracture due to osteoporosis , vertebroplasty may not be as effective.
You will be asked to lie down on your stomach. X-ray cameras will be positioned around you. The cameras will show images of the bone. Your doctor will use this to verify the position of the needles and cement.
The skin over the fractured bone will be numbed and sterilized. A hollow needle will be passed into the vertebra. The acrylic cement will be mixed into a toothpaste-like consistency. An added substance, called barium, will improve the images. When the needle position is ideal, the cement will be injected into the fractured bone. The doctor will watch the cement as it enters the bone to check for leaks.
Your doctor will begin by making a small incision in your back. A tiny drill will be used to create an opening in the bone. A special balloon will be passed through. The balloon will be inflated to open the space and correct the deformity. After the balloon is removed, acrylic cement will be injected into the cavity. This will help to maintain the correction.
You may have a CT scan to confirm the position of the cement. You will stay on your stomach for about 10-20 minutes. This will allow the cement to harden. You will then be moved to a recovery room. You will be asked to lie on your back for another hour or so.
40 minutes to 2 hours
You may feel some initial pain due to lying on your stomach. Many notice immediate and significant relief from pain.
You will usually only need to stay in the hospital for a few hours. You may need to stay longer if you have any complications.
You will be monitored for a few hours for any complications.
You may notice some discomfort at the site of the needle insertion or the tiny incision. This is often relieved through the use of an ice pack (use only for 15 minutes per hour). Acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine may also help. You may also be given medicine to prevent muscle spasm.
You will be asked to stay in bed for about 24 hours after the procedure. After 24 hours, you can gradually increase your activities up to your usual level.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
American College of Radiology
http://www.acr.org/
American Society of Neuroradiology
http://www.asnr.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
The Radiological Society of North America
http://www.rsna.org/
References:
Kyphoplasty. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty.html. Accessed July 1, 2007.
Predey TA, Sewall LE, Smith SJ. Percutaneous vertebroplasty: New treatment for vertebral compression fractures. American Family Physician. 2002; 66: 611-615.
Vertebroplasty. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/vertebroplasty/vertebroplasty.html. Accessed July 1, 2007.
Vertebroplasty. RadiologyInfo website.Available at: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg-vertebro&bhcp=1. Accessed July 1, 2007.
Vertebroplasty for spine fracture pain. Family Doctor website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/748.xml. Accessed July 1, 2007.
¹11/9/2009 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Buchbinder R, Osborne RH, Ebeling PR, et al. A randomized trial of vertebroplasty for painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(6):557-568.
Last reviewed October 2009 by Robert E. Leach, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.