Specializations

Kyphoplast

Kyphoplasty with baloon is a minimally invasive method designed to stabilize the fracture and emend the deformation of the vertebral bodies. Restores the deformity and eliminates the pain emerging from the fracture.

Osteoporosis affects milion of people around the world. In the early stages is a "silent" disease, withouth significant signs or symptoms. Unfortunately for many patients (mostly women), the first sign of the disease is a painful fracture, established in the hips, the wrists, the sides or the vertebrae.

These fractures may result afeter little or no direct injury. They are rearly painful and require immobilization and/or surgical restoration. Compression fractures of the vertebral bodies are the most common fractures of the osteoporosis.

They cause severe pain which requires utilization of strong anagletics, occasionaly even drugs, and often long hospitalization. The diminution of the veterbal body's height causes deformation of the spine (kifosis) in that part. This deformation predisposes in

fractures of the adjacent vertebrae. Multiple fractures may result in worst deformation and important limitation of patient's activities which, in turn, causes aggravation and/or accelaration of bone loss, new fractures etc. Increased

kyphotic deformity of the spine causes important respiratory dysfunction, with mortality percentage of 30%.

Very few could be performed against the osteoporotic fractures of the vertbrae, until recently. The only cure was long-term bed rest and sometimes the fusion. Today, amongst surgeons of the spine the fact that such fractures demand immediate and direct stabilization and rapid mobilization of the patient is considered as granted. New, minimally invasive methods are available for internal fixation of fractures and immediate mobilization.

The kyphoplasty is the most widespread and accepted technique for such cases, after which its widespread application has improved the quality of life for thousands of patients with early diagnosis of vertebral compression fracture. When applying, one or two small holes in the skin on the side of the patient vertebra are applied. A catheter is inserted into the vertebral body under fluoroscopic guidance, and the catheter is inserted through a "balloon" that as inflated reconfigures the fracture restoring the original shape of vertebra. As is easily understood, the earlier treatment is the better is the restoration (cardioversion) of the fracture.

Then, the created cavity of the vertebral body is filled with a synthetic material (bone cement) occupying any space and in short time (a few minutes) solidifies. This results in immediate stabilization of the fracture and restoration of vertebral's column deformation and the possible physiological conditions for around anatomical structures.

Postoperative recovery is usually quick. The patient is mobilized after a few hours and leaves the hospital after 24 hours. The relief from the pain of the fracture is immediate and significant, with minimal postoperative discomfort. The use of splint or belt is not required and the return to normal activities is very fast.

In conclusion: people with known osteoporosis or not (but with age compatible therewith) which exhibit sudden severe pain from the spine, should immediately be checked for osteoporotic fracture. If this diagnosed, it is advisable to investigate the applicability of kyphoplasty. Other indications for applying the method is osteolytic lesions caused of bone metastases or multiple myeloma and, under certain conditions, traumatic non-osteoporotic vertebral body fractures.