Spinal Compression Fractures

Minimally invasive spinal compression fracture treatment

Spinal compression fractures occur when the vertebral body in the spine collapses, which can lead to severe pain, deformity, and loss of height. A compression fracture is a bone fracture that occurs due to compression of the spine. Most compression fractures occur in vertebrae that have been weakened by osteoporosis or cancer, and they are extremely painful.

Spectrum’s interventional radiologists offer several procedures to treat the pain:

• Vertebroplasty: Under mild IV sedation, using local anesthesia, a needle is advanced into the fractured vertebral body under fluoroscopic guidance. A small amount of X-ray dye may be injected to confirm the position of the needle. Then, a quick-setting sterile bone cement is injected, stabilizing the fracture and relieving the pain—avoiding the need for prolonged bed rest and narcotics. Vertebroplasty is highly effective and extremely safe, with a less-than 1% incidence of serious complications.
• Kyphoplasty: Kyphoplasty is a similar procedure in which balloons are inflated inside compressed vertebra prior to cement injection. This helps to restore some height, which can be lost with osteoporosis.
• Sacroplasty: Sacroplasty is a cement injection into the sacrum (the bone joining the spine to the pelvis) under CT guidance. Fractures of the sacrum are also usually caused by osteoporosis, and can cause excruciating pain when standing or sitting. Painful sacral fractures may be stabilized instantly with sacroplasty.

Questions?

If you would like to know more about any of these procedures or schedule a consultation, simply call our Vascular & Interventional Radiology office at 207.956.6650.