Vertebral Augmentation / Fracture
The term vertebral augmentation refers to a variety of surgical procedures that are used to stabilize a fractured vertebra. This treatment is used to reduce the pain a patient is experiencing due to the fracture. The two most common forms of vertebral augmentation include kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.
In many cases, patients who have some kind of vertebral augmentation have experienced a fracture in the spinal vertebra known as a compression fracture. Compression fractures tend to be caused by minor trauma in people who suffer from osteoporosis. The disease makes the spinal vertebra brittle, weak, and more likely to fracture.
However, this isn’t the only cause of a spinal compression fracture. It can also be caused by more severe trauma to the spine, a tumor, or a spinal infection.
Both kinds of vertebral augmentations are surgeries but minimally invasive ones. In most cases, the patient can return home the same day as the procedure. However, in some cases, there may be an overnight stay.
Regardless of the type of vertebral augmentation, the procedure involves injecting bone cement into the vertebra with the fracture. This creates something similar to an internal cast within the bone. The idea is to stabilize the fracture and help control the patient’s pain.
After the procedure is complete, most patients will experience relief from their spinal fracture pain in less than a week. It’s possible for most to return to their usual activities even sooner than that.
A spinal fracture is a serious injury. It can be debilitating and extremely painful. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures are highly innovative and have been proven to strengthen the vertebra in the spine. This results in better functioning and less pain.
It’s a bad idea to ignore what might be a spinal fracture. This can cause serious consequences and even lead to disability. At Modern Pain Consultants, our spine specialist has years of experience in treating spinal fractures using vertebral augmentation. We will determine if you have a spinal fracture during an exam and then can move on to providing immediate treatment.