Neurosurgeons at the Brain and Spine Institute offer a procedure for the correction of spinal fractures due to osteoporosis. The procedure is called balloon kyphoplasty, which is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed under either local or general anesthesia. It is designed to repair the fracture and restore the vertebra to the correct position. The procedure has been demonstrated to significantly reduce back pain, correct spinal deformity and improve quality of life by allowing patients to return to activities of daily living.

There are 33 vertebrae in the human backbone. Often, what people think of as everyday back pain or stooping that is said to be “just a normal part of aging,” could actually be a compression fracture in a vertebra.

Osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become weak or brittle, and certain types of cancer can cause vertebrae to fracture and collapse. “Osteoporosis is painful and debilitating—making walking, eating, sleeping and even breathing painful and difficult,” said Neurosurgeon James Killeffer, MD.

Although traditional treatments may temporarily relieve some of the pain, they do not necessarily address the underlying cause of the discomfort. “Traditional treatment for spinal fractures includes extended bed rest, pain medication and back braces, all of which can relieve pain, but do not address the deformity caused by the fracture,” Killeffer says

Balloon kyphoplasty, in contrast, is a minimally invasive treatment that requires only a small surgical incision. The procedure usually takes less than an hour for each fractured vertebra, and most of that time is devoted to the correct, precise positioning of the equipment. During the procedure, a giant radiology arm—a “C-Arm”—is positioned around the surgical patient. A pair of mechanical arms slides over and under the patient’s body, sending 3-dimensional images of the spine to a computer and providing a far more accurate view of the spine than traditional imaging.

Small incisions (approximately 1 cm in length) are made on the patient’s back, and miniature flexible cameras are inserted through a tube to the site of the fracture. An orthopedic balloon is then inserted into the tube and guided into the fractured or collapsed vertebra. “When I inflate the balloon,” Killeffer explains, “it gently pushes the collapsed vertebra up to its correct position. As the balloon is deflated and removed, the cavity in the vertebra is filled with a special surgical adhesive—bone cement—that helps prevent further collapse.”

“After balloon kyphoplasty, patients have less pain and experience an increased ability to return to such simple everyday activities as walking, reaching, bending and lifting,” concludes Killeffer. In addition to the physical improvements, patients also reported improved mental health, vitality, social function and emotional health.

Medicare does provide coverage for the procedure.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, each year 700,000 patients suffer vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis. An estimated 400,000 of those go undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of awareness and available treatment options. Once a patient suffers one vertebral compression fracture, the likelihood of another increases five-fold.