Spinal fractures or no fun. Neither is any other condition that causes debilitating back pain. When a person’s back hurts, everything else tends to hurt as well. At least that is sometimes the perception. So what are the treatments? Vertebroplasty is an option for fractures.
Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that relies on bone cement to correct fractured bones in the back. Its primary mechanism is to provide stability to the fractured vertebra, thereby reducing pressure on surrounding nerves and alleviating pain.
Good Candidates for the Procedure
Given its nature, vertebroplasty is obviously not appropriate for conditions like herniated discs and spinal stenosis. The best candidates for the procedure are:
1. Patients With Vertebral Compression Fractures
People suffering with vertebral compression fractures can experience severe pain as a result. If the pain responds to more conservative treatments, vertebroplasty tends to be off the table. But if it hasn’t responded for at least two months, doctors might recommend the procedure.
2. Patients With Other Types of Injuries
Vertebroplasty is also an option for patients suffering from other types of back injuries. Fractures as a result of osteoporosis immediately come to mind. But a patient could be suffering from fractures because of cancer, a sports injury, or even a car accident.
How the Procedure Is Performed
Vertebroplasty is considered minimally invasive because it requires little more than a needle. To perform the procedure, a doctor asks the patient to lie on their stomach. An anesthetic numbs the skin in preparation for an injection. Some patients are also given medication to help them relax.
At Lone Star Pain Medicine in Weatherford, TX, doctors say that fluoroscopy is a common tool for guiding needle placement during vertebroplasty procedures. A doctor will insert a needle into the compressed bone, guided by a fluoroscope, then inject bone cement that spreads out and fills all the cavities. Within about 45 minutes, the cement hardens and stabilizes the fractured bone.
Most patients are ready to go home within an hour or two. Doctors tend to recommend limited activity for the first 24 hours or so. Patients can gradually return to normal activity over several weeks.
There Are Risks Involved
Although vertebroplasty is minimally invasive and considered relatively safe, there are risks involved. The leading risk is infection at the injection site, a risk that is actually fairly common with all sorts of injections. Additional risks include:
- Cement leakage
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
The most serious complication involves cement leaking into nearby structures or the spinal canal. Leaking cement could cause additional pain for which a more invasive procedure would be necessary.
An Option to Think About
Vertebroplasty has been used for years as a way to relieve the pain of compression fractures in the spine. It is an effective procedure that offers pain relief to about 87% of those who try it. Approximately 75% of the patients also report regaining lost mobility and becoming more active.
Anyone living with compression fractures in the spine should at least think about vertebroplasty. If this includes you, know that your GP may not be aware of the procedure or its benefits. You may have to ask for a referral to a pain management specialist to get access to vertebroplasty.
Those who enjoy relief from vertebroplasty can be more active and mobile. Thanks to a relatively simple, outpatient procedure that involves little more than a needle, their spines are stabilized and they can get back to normal life. Vertebroplasty is truly one of those procedures that changes lives for the better.
