By Peter van der Meer,MD, Chair of Radiology

EACH YEAR, ABOUT ONE MILLION AMERICANSSUFFER DEBILITATING COMPRESSIONFRACTURES OF THE SPINE. In addition tobeing painful, these fractures can causeshortening of the spine and forwardleaning posture, called kyphosis. A minimally invasive procedure calledkyphoplasty offers quick pain relief andthe potential to restore bone height andcorrect the kyphosis. This is accomplishedby injection of the fracture with surgicalcement, a kind of superglue.

The main reason to do kyphoplasty ispain relief. It's effective and safe andpatients often go home the same dayof the procedure. Kyphoplasty ismost successful in people withosteoporosis and is an immenselyimportant treatment option forelderly people with very painfulfractures. Seniors who can’t get out ofbed because of a compressionfracture are at high risk forcomplications including blood clotsin the legs or lungs, pneumonia,constipation, depression and loss ofmuscle mass and bone mass. The lossof bone mass can increase thelikelihood of future fractures. So weaim to get these patients up andwalking again as soon as possible.Kyphoplasty is great treatment forthem.You do the procedure in themorning, they walk in the afternoon.

A patient undergoing kyphoplasty issedated and lies face down on a special x-ray table. A local anesthetic is given tonumb the back. After making a smallincision in the back, the physician, guidedby real-time X-ray images, advances a thintube into the fractured vertebra. Throughthe tube, a special balloon is inserted intothe interior of the vertebra. Once correctlyplaced, the balloon is inflated. This pushesbone out of the way and “jacks up” thecollapsed vertebra. The goal is to restorethe vertebra to its original shape as muchas possible. When this is achieved, theballoon is deflated and removed, and thecavity is filled with a quick-setting bonecement.

The procedure takes about 30 minutesper fracture. Patients stay in bed and are

observed for several hours after theprocedure. When sedatives wear off, theyare encouraged to get up and movearound.

Depending on their overall condition,many patients go home the same day, orare discharged after an over-night hospitalstay. Once discharged, they may resumenormal activities.

In terms of achieving pain relief,kyphoplasty is as effective as a similarprocedure, called vertebroplasty. Nine outof ten patients experience significant painrelief within 24 hours. Vertebroplasty isdone without balloons, and does not offerthe potential to restore bone height. It’s agood procedure if there is little or noheight lost with the fracture. Patients areindividually assessed to determine which

procedure is most appropriate fortheir fracture.

For more information aboutkyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty, call663-4150.

Dr. Peter van der Meer specializes inskeletal disorders and performs morekyphoplasties than any New Englandphysician.

“It still feels great to see someone smile andstand up straight a few hours after aprocedure that was necessary because theywere in a wheelchair.”

Minimally Invasive Procedure provides

QUICK RELIEF