Percutaneous Balloon Kyphoplasty for Painful Vertebral Compression Fractures

This procedure provides immediate pain relief for back pain due to a fractured spine.

People who have osteoporosis, osteopenia, or cancer such as Multiple Myeloma are at risk of fractures of the spine which are called Vertebral Compression Fractures. Oftentimes no major injury is involved other than a slip and fall, but because the bones are weak, they break and cause severe back pain. Most commonly people are prescribed pain pills by their doctors or the emergency room, but usually this is not enough to block the pain and allow people to function normally. Also, the strong pain pills usually cause side effects such as sleepiness, confusion and nausea.

The Percutaneous Balloon Kyphoplasty (PBK) is a simple procedure than is performed in my office under light sedation in under an hour. Patients are immediately able to move about with little or no pain and no longer require the strong pain pills.

Check out this YouTube video for a brief description.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytSXSDUi_zo

Another benefit of treating a spinal fracture with PBK is preventing long term deformity of the spine. If the fracture is allowed to heal on its own, it can cause stenosis of the spinal canal which can lead to other chronic low back pain symptoms. This is due to the fracture that causes loss of height of the vertebrae.