Kyphoplasty surgery
Kyphoplasty is a recently developed
minimally invasive treatment for vertebral
compression fractures. These fractures
happen when the bone is weakened as a result of osteoporosis, or
cancer.
In fact, the commonest cause is osteoporosis,
which affects an estimated 3 million people in the UK, resulting in
over 120,000 spinal fractures each year. (National Osteoporosis
Society) In osteoporosis, the bones become quite brittle, and break
quite easily after minor trauma. The fractures in the spine may
result in severe pain, as well as an increased curvature of the
spine, which when severe, leads to a loss of height and breathing
difficulties. The combination of pain, spinal deformity, and
impaired lung function results in the loss of independence for many
patients.The other main indication for kyphoplasty is the relief of
pain from spinal cancer. Common cancers such as lung, breast, and
prostate cancer frequently spread to the spine, causing severe pain
and suffering for the cancer patient. Primary blood cancers, such
as myeloma, also involve the spine, and these patients may benefit
from kyphoplasty.
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects that you may have a
vertebral compression fracture, the diagnosis can be confirmed with
imaging studies, i.e. X-rays, bone scan, CT scan, MRI scan.
How does kyphoplasty
work?
The procedure can be performed under local or
general anaesthesia. The duration of the procedure is about one
hour for a single level, with another 30 minutes being required for
additional levels.
In kyphoplasty, a special balloon is inserted
into the involved vertebra, using X-ray control, via a small cut in
the skin . The balloon is slowly blown up to restore vertebral
height, then deflated, and removed, leaving a space in the bone. A
special mixture of cement –like material is injected into this
space to strengthen the bone (Figure 1 and 2). This procedure is
safe and is quite effective in relieving pain. More than one
fracture can be treated at the same time, and usually only an
overnight stay in hospital is required. After this procedure, you
should avoid any heavy lifting for a few weeks.
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Benefits of kyphoplasty
- Prompt relief of pain (in over 90% of patients)
- Improvement in mobility
- Improvement in activities of daily
living
- Improved quality of life
- Restoration of vertebral height
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Complications of
kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a safe and effective procedure
with a complication rate of less than
1%. However, potentially serious complications
may occur:
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- Infection in the bone
- Lack of pain relief
- Damage to the spinal nerves
- Damage to the spinal cord
- Pulmonary embolism (spread of cement through
the bloodstream to the lungs)
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Information written by
Mr Habib
Ellamushi, FRCS(Ed) FRCS (SN) (Consultant
Neurosurgeon)
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substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may
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provider.