For patients with spinal compression fractures due to osteoporosis or tumor, kyphoplasty may be a good treatment option. Developed in the late 1980s, this minimally invasive procedure offers pain relief to patients without serious health risks or recovery times.

“Kyphoplasty is an excellent treatment option for patients with fractures due to thinner bones,” says James Waldschmidt, MD, MBA, neuroradiologist at NFH. “This procedure can also be performed on any part of the lower or middle spine.”

How it’s done

• Patients are given local or general anesthesia
• Using a real-time X-ray, the physician inserts a needle with a balloon catheter attached through a small incision into the broken part of the bone
• When the balloon inflates, it compacts the bone
• Cement is injected through the needle, which will fill in the weak part of the fractured bone and can restore the bone’s natural shape
• The balloon is then removed.

“This procedure offers great benefits for patients who want a solution for back pain,” says Dr. Waldschmidt. “Patients are typically released from the hospital the same day and experience good outcomes.”

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

New options are available if you are considering spine surgery. For many years, spinal surgeries were performed as open procedures, meaning patients would experience longer recovery periods after surgery.

“Today, thanks to specialized equipment and new surgical techniques, we are able to perform what would traditionally be considered an open surgery through a minimally invasive approach,” says Charles Weaver Jr., MD, PhD, neurosurgeon on staff at NFH. “Making smaller incisions provides many benefits to patients.”

Traditional open surgery typically requires patients to stay in the hospital for three to five days, with a six-to eight-week recovery period. With minimally invasive surgery, patients can leave the hospital in one to two days and typically recover in four to six weeks.

“Patients also experience reduced postoperative pain and less blood loss with minimally invasive spine surgery,” says Dr. Weaver. “We are proud to offer these advanced procedures to the community.”

Traditional Surgery vs. Minimally invasive Surgery

Traditional

• 3-5 day hospital stay
• 6-8 week recovery period

Minimally Invasive

• 1-2 day hospital stay
• 4-6 week recovery period
• smaller incision
• less blood loss
• less postoperative pain

Next: Step 3 - Rehabilitation