Vertebral compression fractures affect about 12-20% of adults aged 50 and above, making it one of the most prevalent spinal fractures. At the private practice in Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona, Dr. Kirk Minkus, MD, offers vertebral compression fracture treatments through a minimally-invasive procedure known as kyphoplasty. As a highly skilled interventional radiology specialist, Dr. Minkus is well-versed in conducting kyphoplasties that restore normal spinal strength and mobility function. You cannot benefit from kyphoplasty if your bone heals so, if you suffer spinal fractures in Mesa or Gilbert, Az, call the office of Kirk Minkus, MD or go online to request an appointment today.
What Are the Primary Causes of Spinal Fractures?
The vertebrae in one's spine may suffer from various types of fractures. Nevertheless, there are two major causes. You might fracture one or several vertebrae because of high-energy trauma, for instance, a car or fall accident. Two, your vertebra might collapse without huge trauma because it's feeble. This form of fracture is known as a vertebral compression fracture.
What Causes Vertebral Compression Fracture?
Even though trauma or tumor might result in a vertebral compression fracture, the bigger percentage are caused by osteoporosis. During one's entire lifetime, the body progressively eliminates damaged and old bone, replacing it with new, healthy bone, a process known as remodeling.
So long as remodeling remains balanced, you enjoy healthy bones, but if the old bone is removed faster than it is replaced, your bone loses mass, thus becoming weak and brittle (osteoporosis). Osteoporosis makes one's vertebra extremely weak so that it may collapse during day-to-day activities. Coughing or bending over to pick something from the ground can put enough stress on your vertebra to cause a compression fracture.
What Symptoms Are Associated with a Spinal Compression Fracture?
Most patients will experience pain when the vertebra collapses. This pain typically feels better once you lie down and worsens when you are active. With time, your upper back might develop a rounded appearance, a condition known as kyphosis.
When one suffers a compression fracture, the vertebra's front part collapses, whereas the back remains intact. Once several nearby vertebrae all suffer from a compression fracture, the wedge-shaped bones develop a rounded shape.
How to Treat Spinal Compression Fractures?
Dr. Minkus conducts a minimally-invasive treatment known as kyphoplasty to repair the compression fractures. He uses real-time imaging to visualize your spine and guides a hollow needle into your damaged vertebrae during your procedure.
Once the needle is in position, Dr. Minkus drives a balloon into your vertebra. The balloon is inflated to restore your bone's natural shape and height. He then extracts the balloon and fills this space using bone cement. This cement maintains your vertebra's shape and lets the fracture heal completely. Thus, patients enjoy pain relief and restore their normal spine mobility and strength.
That said, don't hesitate to book your appointment because once the bone heals, you cannot undergo kyphoplasty. In case you realize any symptoms, contact Kirk Minkus, MD, through mobile or request an appointment online.
