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Pumping Up the Spine

When people have osteoporosis, the most common bone broken is the hip, right? Wrong. Compression fractures of the vertebrae are the most common problems of osteoporosis. They are tiny cracks in the bones of the spine. The bone becomes weak and actually collapses. When a vertebra collapses, it loses height. These fractures cause the hunchback appearance of many older people.

A humped back is more than just a cosmetic problem. The condition, which doctors know as kyphosis, can cause pain and disability. It can even squeeze the lungs. To relieve pain, the compressed vertebrae can sometimes be filled with cement. This procedure is called vertebroplasty. It makes the bone stronger. But vertebroplasty does not restore the height of the vertebra.

A newer procedure called kyphoplasty addresses this problem. In this procedure, a balloon is inserted into the middle of the collapsed vertebra. The balloon is then inflated. This expands the bone, and it regains height. Cement is then pushed into the space right away. The cement supports the vertebra and restores its height.

This study followed the results of kyphoplasty patients for at least one year. Patients reported less pain right away. Pain relief lasted over the follow-up period. Patients also reported more activity and a better mental state. There were very few complications.

The authors conclude that kyphoplasty is an effective treatment for compression fractures in the vertebrae. Over time, it may prove to be the treatment of choice for this painful condition.

References: Jean-Valéry C.E. Coumans, MD, et al. Kyphoplasty for Vertebral Compression Fractures: One-Year Clinical Outcomes from a Prospective Study. In Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. July 2003. Vol. 99. No. 1. Pp. 44-50.

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