
Vertebral compression fractures are a prevalent osteoporosis complication that can be restricting and painful. If you have a compression fracture in Shrewsbury, Edison, or Toms River, New Jersey, the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine’s seasoned surgeons Marc Menkowitz, MD, Steve Paragioudakis, MD can help. They focus on performing safe, effective, minimally invasive procedures such as kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. Call the nearest Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine’s office, or schedule a consultation online to learn more about how you can benefit from their services.
What Is The Concept Of A Compression Fracture?
Whenever a bone breaks because it is not capable of supporting the weight it normally carries, it is termed a compression fracture. The bone flattens and compresses instead of cracking or breaking. The most prevalent form of compression fracture is vertebral compression fracture.
Traumatic injuries such as car accidents or falls can cause vertebral compression fractures. Tumors in or around the spine may also weaken the bone to the point that it fails. Nonetheless, Osteoporosis is the most common cause of vertebral compression fractures.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density of the bones decreases, leaving them fragile and weak. Your bones will readily break if you have severe Osteoporosis, even if you are performing normal activities, and vertebrae are particularly fragile.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Compression Fracture?
Spinal deformity and debilitating pain are the most common signs of a vertebral compression fracture. Neck and back pain may occur due to the fracture, which may become worse if you sneeze or cough. Once you suffer a single vertebral compression fracture, it is common for others to follow, exacerbating the pain.
You could have a hunched look in your upper back if you have multiple vertebral compression fractures. This disease, referred to as Kyphosis, occurs when most vertebral compression fractures occur towards the front of the bone, causing the vertebra to be wedge-shaped.
A dowager’s hump is a bending somewhere at the top of your back caused by a sequence of wedge-shaped vertebrae.
What Are The Options For Treating A Compression Fracture?
The specialist at the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine will perform either kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty to prevent disability and alleviate acute pain.
- Vertebroplasty
Your physician uses imaging equipment to direct the needle during minimally invasive vertebroplasty as he/she injects a specialized care cement into your compression fracture. The adhesive helps to reinforce and support the vertebrae, which helps to relieve back pain.
- Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a procedure that is comparable to vertebroplasty but includes an additional step. Your doctor inflates a small balloon inside the damaged vertebrae before administering the bone cement, which lifts the bone towards a more natural height. Kyphoplasty may help to relieve back pain and strengthen the spine by reducing the intensity of your Kyphosis.
If you have a vertebral compression fracture, you can also take measures to delay the advancement of Osteoporosis if it is the cause of your disease. To mitigate the possibility of more stress fractures and protect the vertebrae, you may need to take monoclonal antibody medicines and bisphosphonates.
If you are growing a dowager’s hump or struggling with back pain, call the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine or make an appointment online. The compression fracture specialists will work with you to ensure you fully recover from your pain and enjoy a greater range of motion.