Non-painful stable compression fractures.Vertebral hemangioma (benign vascular tumor).Multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow).Metastatic tumor (cancer spread from another area).Osteoporosis (a depletion of calcium in bones).Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty may be a treatment option if you have painful vertebral compression fractures from: It is important that people seek treatment for osteoporosis early, before fractures occur. Studies show that people who get one osteoporotic fracture are 5 times more likely to develop additional fractures. Patients who've had kyphoplasty report significantly less pain after treatment. The benefit of kyphoplasty is that your vertebra is returned to normal position before the bone hardens. Without treatment, the fractures will eventually heal, but in a collapsed position. The cement-strengthened vertebra allows you to stand straight, reduces your pain, and prevents further fractures. The procedures are repeated for each affected vertebra. In kyphoplasty, a balloon is first inserted and inflated to expand the compressed vertebra to its normal height before filling the space with bone cement. In vertebroplasty, bone cement (called polymethylmethacrylate) is injected through the hollow needle into the fractured bone. Both are performed through a hollow needle that is passed through the skin of your back into the fractured vertebra. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are similar procedures. An osteoporotic compression fracture causes the front of the vertebral body to collapse in a wedge-shape (red lines). Side views of a normal spine and a spine with a compression fracture. VCFs can lead to back pain, reduced physical activity, depression, loss of independence, decreased lung capacity, and difficulty sleeping.įigure 1. Activities, such as lifting a heavy object, sneezing, or coughing may cause fractures. People with bones weakened by osteoporosis (a depletion of calcium) or multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow) are especially prone to compression fractures. When several vertebrae become wedge-shaped, people can develop a humped spine, called kyphosis. In vertebral compression fractures (VCF), the body collapses into itself (more in the front than the back) producing a "wedged" vertebra (Fig. By restoring the vertebra height with a balloon and injecting cement into the fractured bone, patients can recover faster and reduce the risk of future fractures. Left untreated, they can lead to a humped spine (kyphosis). These painful, wedge-shaped fractures can be caused by osteoporosis and injury. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures used to treat vertebral compression fractures of the spine.
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