Repairing a broken vertebrae can sound like something out of science fiction, but fortunately, there is a treatment that with little intervention can restore shape, strength and structure. It’s called kyphoplasty, also known as balloon vertebroplasty.
Using minimally invasive techniques, this cutting edge technology can help alleviate the severe pain caused by fractures in the spine, which are more likely to happen as you age, or as the result of a chronic illness.
If you are in New Jersey, University Pain and Spine Center offers specialized treatments delivered by award winning doctors that will prioritize your needs and your quality of life.
Kyphoplastly is a procedure that addresses broken and crushed vertebrae. When the bones in your spine get fractured, they lose structural soundness and compress nerves running through them, which can be very painful. The objective of a kyphoplasty is to recover the original shape of the bone.
How this works is that a needle is inserted into the vertebrae from behind while fully or partially sedated. It accesses the inside of the bone and a special balloon gets slid in through the needle. Air gets pumped in, recreating the original structure and returning space to the surrounding nerves.
After reaching the desired shape, the balloon is taken out and the empty space is filled with bone cement, which is surgically safe. The quality of the substance is largely responsible for how well the kyphoplasty will turn out in the long run.
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Spinal surgery can sound intimidating, however our specialized team assures that you are in good hands. University Pain and Spine Center centers minimally invasive treatments like kyphoplasty that put little strain on the body. Before getting one, you will have a consultation with one of our healthcare providers to check what the anatomy looks like and if the treatment is the best option for you.
During the procedure appointment, the first thing to happen will be anesthesia. It can be local or general depending on the location and severity of the fracture. A specialized x-ray machine is placed to help guide the insertion that follows.
When it has begun to act, a special needle called a balloon catheter that is wide enough to transport the balloon is inserted into the bone.The balloon is inflated inside slowly and gently, to give the vertebrae it’s height back and create the necessary cavity, and then removed.
To maintain the structural soundness, bone cement is injected, filling up the space and hardening by itself shortly after. When that is done, the catheter is withdrawn, and for most people very little stitches are necessary.
A kyphoplasty is an outpatient procedure, which means you won’t need to stay in hospital afterwards. You will be monitored for a short time to guarantee everything is going well, and then sent home with pain medications.
Some discomfort may remain at the incision point for a few days or weeks, but you should be able to go back to your normal activities within the first couple of days. If the pain worsens or the wound looks worse as time goes by please contact your healthcare provider.
If you are looking for effective treatment for compression spinal fractures, University Pain and Spine provides patient-focused care, delivered by the best of the best when it comes to back related afflictions. With guaranteed personalized appointments that put your needs and expectations first, you can rest assured that you are putting your trust in the right team of healthcare professionals in New Jersey. Contact us and begin your road to recovery.
Our physiatrists and pain management experts in Somerset, Monroe, Ewing, Bloomfield and Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, are devoted to helping patients find pain relief and regain control of their everyday lives.
