Undergoing Kyphoplasty for a Damaged Vertabrae
Does it feel like something is broken in your back because you are always in pain? If you tripped and fractured your vertebrae when hitting the ground, for example, an orthopedic surgeon may be able to relieve the pain by performing a medical procedure that is called kyphoplasty. Discover below what goes on during the kyphoplasty procedure so you will know what to expect.
How Does the Doctor Decide If I Need Kyphoplasty?
The procedure will begin with the surgeon performing an examination to find out what the exact cause of your back pain is. Taking a hard fall does not automatically mean that the pain stems from a damaged vertebrae. The surgeon will try to determine if you have an underlying medical condition like osteoporosis that is causing the pain. Osteoporosis may have been the reason why your vertebrae got damaged so easily, as it causes bones to become fragile.
One of the main tests that will be performed is a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The DXA test will help the surgeon determine your level of bone density. If signs of low bone density are present, it can mean that you are suffering from a compression fracture. Basically, a compression fracture results in your vertebrae being an abnormal size (too short). The surgeon will surgically bring the vertebrae back to a normal size through kyphoplasty so you can get pain relief.
How Is Kyphoplasty Performed?
The first step performed by the surgeon will be administering anesthesia as you lie on an operating table with your back facing up towards the surgeon. He or she may give you the option of choosing between general or local anesthesia. You will be completely unconscious until surgery is over if you opt for general anesthesia. However, it is also possible that the surgeon will administer the anesthesia at his or her own discretion.
The next step will involve the surgeon making two incisions near your spinal cord. He or she will then proceed to insert tubes in each of the small incisions. The tubes are necessary to reach the damaged vertebrae so that acrylic bone cement can be poured inside of them. The cement will fill the dense areas of vertebrae and repair the abnormal size, which will give you pain relief. The last step involves the removal of the tubes and the incisions being stitched up.
Contact a back surgeon through a website like http://swfna.com and find out if kyphoplasty is right for you!
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