I Have Osteoporosis: Is Kyphoplasty Right for Me?

Cancer and heart attacks are common sources of worry for people as they age, but many health conditions can significantly impact the lives of older Americans. 

Among these is osteoporosis, called a silent disease because it can weaken bones and increase your risk of a bone fracture without you realizing it.

When this condition causes compression fractures in the spine, treatment with kyphoplasty can help relieve pain and prevent a hunched posture.

Dr. Jocelyn Idema and our skilled staff at Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center, with offices in Western Pennsylvania and South Florida, provide cutting-edge treatments for many back and neck issues, including kyphoplasty for compression fractures of the vertebrae.

Osteoporosis

Our bodies break down old bone and replace it with new bone throughout our lives. When we’re young, fresh bone forms quickly and increases bone mass. However, as we age, bone loss can occur faster than bone creation, resulting in osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis affects about 10 million Americans; half of women and up to a quarter of men suffer broken bones due to this condition.

Vertebral compression fractures

The spine includes 24 vertebrae stacked one on top of another to create the canal that houses the spinal cord. A break in one of these vertebrae is known as a compression fracture and can cause its collapse. 

Compression fractures cause the vertebrae to become shorter and allow pieces of bone to press on the spinal cord and nerves.

These fractures occur about 1.5 million times yearly in the United States, making them nearly twice as common as other osteoporosis-linked bone breaks, such as in the hips and wrists.

Kyphoplasty

We always recommend conservative care strategies first. With compression fractures, that can include pain medications, rest, and back bracing. If pain continues, however, additional treatment may be necessary.

One option is minimally invasive kyphoplasty, a procedure performed about 19,000 times annually in the US. Your doctor places an inflatable, balloon-like device into the compressed vertebra and inflates it to increase the height of the vertebra and restore its shape.

They then inject bone cement into the space to prevent further collapse.

Kyphoplasty reduces pain and can prevent the spine from curving into a hunched position. An upright posture is essential to healthy breathing and the proper functioning of the organs in the abdomen.

Good candidates

Kyphoplasty can help people suffering from back pain who are limited in their daily activities due to a compression fracture that hasn't improved with other treatments. 

Kyphoplasty can’t treat other back problems like arthritis, disc herniation, or stenosis. We often use imaging tests to confirm your pain is from a vertebral fracture.

Whether you're having back pain or already have been diagnosed with a spinal compression fracture, we can help. Call Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center today to make an appointment.