Dallas County Living Well Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 21
Back to a Healthier Lifestyle
Balloon Kyphoplasty Procedure Offers Numerous Benefits and Relief
for Patients with Fractured Vertebrae
By Crys Sory, MD
Y
ou were getting out of bed and suddenly felt
a “pop” and an intense amount of pain in
your back that nearly leaves you unable to
move. Osteoporosis has caused your bones
to become so weak and brittle that everyday
activities, such as walking, sleeping and getting out of bed,
become more difficult than usual. The back pain is caused
by small fractures in the spine, also known as vertebral
compression fractures (VCF).
Most VCFs are caused by osteoporosis, a disease that
causes bones to become brittle and break easily. Osteoporosis, often called the “silent disease”––because
bone loss occurs without symptoms––threatens
approximately 44 million Americans, or 55%
of people 50 years old and older, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Ten million people have the disease and 34 million more are estimated
to have the low bone mass that places
them at risk for the disease.
If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly as bones gradually break down, until a bone breaks. These
broken bones occur typically in the spine, hip,
and wrist. People may not even know they have
osteoporosis until their bones become so weak
that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes an injury such as a VCF.
A VCF can cause severe back pain. Left untreated, one VCF can lead to multiple fractures
that can cause kyphosis––a serious health condition
marked by forward curvature of the upper back––commonly called a “dowager’s hump.” This condition can lead
to a host of health problems including loss of appetite,
sleeping problems, difficulty in breathing, and an increased risk of death.
Traditional treatment for VCFs is limited to bed rest,
bracing and pain management, often through narcotics.
While these therapies may help to decrease a patient’s
pain over time, they do not treat the deformity related to
osteoporotic fractures. If left untreated, the curvature
caused by VCFs becomes more pronounced, painful and
debilitating.
However, vertebral compression fractures can be
treated. Balloon kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, is designed to treat the fracture and can significantly
reduce back pain, correct spinal deformity and improve
quality of life. Over 850,000 patients worldwide have been
treated with balloon kyphoplasty.
The benefits of this procedure include:
•
•
•
•
Significant reduction in back pain
Significant improvement in quality of life
Significant improvement in mobility
Significant improvement in ability to perform daily activities
What is involved in Balloon Kyphoplasty?
Balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive treatment
for VCFs. With a hollow instrument, the surgeon creates a small pathway through a tiny incision (approximately one centimeter in length) into the fractured
bone. A small orthopedic balloon is then guided
through the instrument into the vertebrae. The balloon is then carefully inflated in an effort to
raise the collapsed vertebra and return it to
its normal position.
Once the vertebra is in the correct
position, the balloon is deflated and
removed, creating a cavity within the
vertebral body. The cavity is filled
with a special cement to support the surrounding bone and prevent further collapse.
The cement forms an internal cast that holds the
vertebra in place.
Balloon kyphoplasty can be done under local or general anesthesia. Typically the entire
procedure takes less than one hour per fracture
treated and may require an overnight hospital
stay.
Patients notice a significant reduction in the
number of days where pain interferes with their
daily activities. Most patients are very satisfied with this
procedure and are able to gradually resume normal activities
shortly after they are discharged from the hospital.
Dr. Crys Sory is board certified in diagnostic radiology
with a certificate of added
qualifications in neuroradiology. He has authored
many publications and
lectures on neuroradiology.
Dr. Sory has been named
twice as one of Dallas’ Best
Doctors in D Magazine and
is a senior member of The
American Society of Neuroradiology. For further information regarding Dr. Sory
and his practice, please
call 972-566-7866.
North Dallas Living Well Magazine • Spring 2014
19