Osteoporosis affects 10 million Americans and is responsible for 700,000 vertebral fractures each year, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
The talented and experienced surgeons, led by Dr. Hyun Bae, focus on minimally invasive spinal surgery, Los Angeles residents can consider. They are conscientious about patient anatomy and provide surgical solutions that preserve soft tissue to help eliminate pain, minimize complications, and reduce operative and recovery time. New advancements and technology paired with the right expertise and training allows the Spine Institute surgeons to offer patients a wide spectrum of minimally invasive surgical options, including vertebroplasty.
What is Vertebroplasty Surgery?
ertebroplasty is a surgical outpatient procedure that is used to stabilize compression fractures in the spine in order to stop pain caused by the fracture. Minimally invasive, the surgical procedure is performed through a small puncture in the patient’s skin. In order to stabilize the compression fracture, a specially formulated acrylic bone cement is injected into the bones that have cracked or broken, which is most often due to osteoporosis. When cement mixture hardens, it stabilizes the affected vertebra and allows the patient to return to their normal activities after the recovery period.
Most patients will experience a pain reduction in the immediate days following surgery, minimized use of pain medications and increased mobility. Patients are generally treated as outpatients and are able to return home the same day, with bed rest recommended for at least the first 24 hours. The doctor will likely recommend that the patient does not drive themselves home the day of the procedure and will be able to provide additional recovery information specific to the patient, their symptoms and surgery.
Infection, bleeding and numbness are complications that are associated with all surgical procedures. Those who undergo vertebroplasty may also be at risk for cement leakage, rib or surrounding bone fractures and spinal cord injury.
To be sure that these complications do not arise, it is of the utmost importance to be treated by a surgeon who meets the credentialing requirements for vertebroplasty, including training in guided needle placement, patient selection criteria and patient care protocols. Qualified surgeons will not only able to properly diagnosis the initial problem, but have experience performing the vertebroplasty surgery if it is found to offer the best chance for a positive outcome.
The vertebroplasty procedure can allow you to return to your normal activities, while also making it so that the treated bone is less likely to crack or fracture again in the future. However, not all individuals are good candidates for vertebroplasty surgery. To find out if you are the right candidate, reach out to The Spine Institute Center for Spinal Restoration. Our team of world-class surgeons is involved in some of the most advanced clinical trials for spinal treatments in the industry and can help properly diagnosis and treat a variety of advanced spine conditions.
For more information or to request a consultation, call (310) 828-7757 and take the first step toward a pain-free life today.