A bone disease like osteoporosis, a trauma or injury, or a tumor in or near your spine can cause vertebral compression fractures (VCFs.) In this type of spinal injury, one of the small bones in your spine cracks or collapses.
VCFs cause very painful and disruptive symptoms, such as severe back pain or difficulty walking, sitting, or standing without discomfort. You need the right treatment to recover as soon as possible, or you may lose your quality of life.
VCF injuries can cause spinal deformation or curvature, known as kyphosis, and increase your short-term risk of mortality, as well.
Dr. Gavin Nixon and the team of interventional pain management physicians at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness of Anchorage, Alaska, provide kyphoplasty, a surgical treatment for acute or non- healing compression fractures.
This month, we help you understand how to prepare for kyphoplasty, and what to expect during and after your procedure.
The kyphoplasty procedure is minimally invasive, safe, and effective, and we do it on an outpatient basis. Often, your procedure takes only 30-60 minutes to complete, and then you’re ready to head home.
We provide you with a local anesthetic and oral or IV sedation to maintain your comfort. Plan on getting a ride home after your appointment. However, this procedure comes with less recovery time than traditional surgery, so you won’t need to plan on extensive downtime.
Before your procedure, you may need to discontinue certain medications, such as blood thinners. Some medications relating to the surgery may be prescribed for you. Stop or reduce smoking prior to surgery.
On the day of your appointment, wear comfortable, loose clothing, without any jewelry. In the hours before the procedure, you should avoid eating or drinking.
Your procedure involves a few steps. You may be surprised to learn that one of the first ones is inserting a balloon into the fractured vertebral bone. Here’s how it works.
You lie on your stomach for this procedure. Dr. Nixon doesn’t need to make an incision, only a small puncture in your skin. We rely on X-ray guidance during your kyphoplasty, ensuring accuracy and reducing the need for incisions.
Using a fine needle, Dr. Nixon inserts a small tube into the damaged spinal bone. He then inflates a small balloon in the collapsed bone to create a cavity for the cement. We end the procedure by stabilizing your fractured vertebral bone by injecting a special bone cement that restores strength to that part of your spine. The balloon is removed from your spine before the cement application. Our team bandages the treatment area before you’re discharged.
Kyphoplasty stabilizes your fractured vertebral bone and eliminates the pain caused by the fracture instability.
Your results appear as soon as you recover from the procedure, with significant pain relief possible after only a few days of healing. More than 90% of kyphoplasty patients report less pain after treatment.
You will usually stay braced for 4-6 weeks after the procedure to help with recovery and you should avoid heavy lifting bending or twisting for 4-6 weeks. The Alpenglow Pain & Wellness team supports you before, during, and after kyphoplasty. We then will start you in a physical therapy program to strengthen your spine if needed.
If you’re concerned about a potential vertebral fracture, don’t delay reaching out to our Anchorage office. The right care spares you from symptoms like back pain and reduces your risk of complications. To schedule an appointment, call today, or book with our easy-to-use online tool.
