Kyphoplasty – A Surgical Spine Treatment Performed in Freehold & Monroe Township, NJ
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical technique used for stabilizing a vertebral compression fracture in the spine. Often as a result of osteoporosis—an age-related condition that causes the bones to become brittle and weak—small cracks can form in a vertebral body, which is the thick bone mass at the front of a spinal vertebra. As osteoporosis progresses, cracked vertebrae can become thinner and flatter, and eventually collapse.
In addition to severe back pain, vertebral body fractures can cause the spine to shorten and curve forward, leading to the development of a visibly rounded back (a “dowager’s hump”).
What Does a Kyphoplasty Procedure Involve?
During a kyphoplasty procedure, the patient lies on his or her stomach. Using X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy), the surgeon inserts a hollow needle (trocar) through the patient’s skin and guides it into the fractured vertebra.
Once the trocar is properly positioned, the surgeon inserts an inflatable, balloon-like device through the trocar and into the vertebra. After inflating the balloon to create space within the collapsed vertebra, the surgeon places a special bone cement in the trocar, using it to fill the newly created space and ultimately strengthen the vertebra.
Are You a Candidate for a Kyphoplasty Procedure?
If you have progressive back pain that is affecting your mobility or diminishing your quality of life, you may be a candidate for a kyphoplasty procedure if your pain is related to a vertebral compression fracture. Before finalizing your treatment plan, your surgeon will order and review imaging tests to confirm the source of your pain. If you are diagnosed with another spine condition, such as a herniated disc, spondylosis (spinal osteoarthritis), or spinal stenosis (narrowing), your surgeon will suggest a different treatment approach.
Whether you are experiencing sudden or chronic back pain, the board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI) can pinpoint the cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan to help you recover. In many cases, back pain can be relieved without surgery. The team of spine specialists at AOSMI will help you explore all of your options and suggest kyphoplasty or another surgical procedure only when necessary.
If you would like to request a consultation with a spine surgeon at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute in Freehold or Monroe Township, NJ, contact us today.
