A vertebral compression fracture refers explicitly to a hairline break in a spinal vertebra, which occurs because of a weakening in the bone due to osteoporosis. This hairline broken bone in the spine can cause chronic back pain, lead to a decrease in height, and cause you to have a misaligned posture.
Let’s talk about the best treatment methods for compression fractures, and where you can go in Melbourne for effective treatment to tamp down your back pain.
Treating a Cracked Spine Through Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
For cases where nonsurgical treatments do not work to relieve your back pain, your spine doctor can conduct a minimally invasive procedure. The two main options are vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty:
- Vertebroplasty involves your spine surgeon inserting a special bone cement directly into the fracture, which helps to support the bone and relieve the pain.
- Kyphoplasty is similar to vertebroplasty, but it has an additional step: The doctor will inflate a tiny, thin balloon into the fracture to increase the space before inserting a somewhat thicker bone cement. This can especially help to restore any height you’ve lost as a result of osteoporosis.
Preparing for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
The preparation and aftercare for both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are the same. Before the procedure, you will need an X-ray and a physical examination, which will help your back doctor locate the fractures or weak spots along the vertebrae. The doctor may also ask you to undergo additional diagnostic imaging tests, such as an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or a CT scan (computed tomography scan).
Patients who need to have either of these treatments will also need to provide their complete medical history. Let the doctor know if you have any bleeding disorders or are taking any prescription medications. Some medicines can increase the risk of excessive bleeding or blood clots during or after surgery, so certain precautions may have to be made beforehand.
What Should I Expect in Compression Fracture Surgery?
You will be given anesthesia for the procedure. The medical staff will cover your nonsurgical area with a radiation protector, and the surgeon will use a continuous X-ray to direct the needle precisely into the affected vertebra.
The needle is used to inject the bone cement into the fracture. Because it is injection-based, you will probably not need to have stitches.
After the Procedure and Recovery
After the procedure, you will remain lying down for about an hour while the cement hardens. You will be under observation for an additional one to two hours.
You may feel pain relief immediately, but it usually takes up to 72 hours before the discomfort fully subsides. Your spine doctor will probably give you a prescription medication to keep the pain under control while you recuperate.
The doctor may advise you to limit active movement until you’ve recovered, but you will be able to walk immediately after the surgery. Once the cement solidifies, the vertebra will become stable and support your spine as normal.
Treatment of a Compression Fracture in Melbourne, FL
Interventional pain management for back pain can include guided pain-relief injections into the spine, but the optimum treatments for compression fractures are minimally invasive vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. The medical team at Central Florida Spine & Pain is committed to giving you quality back pain relief in the least-invasive manner that would be effective for you.
Our medical team is led by Dr. Nicholas Giordano, a board-certified physician specializing in pain management and spine conditions. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Giordano, call us today at (321) 802-5021 or request an appointment online now. Let us treat your back pain once and for all. We look forward to serving you!
