New Minimally Invasive Surgery Treats Painful Spinal Fractures

BRIDGEPORT — Patients with painful spinal fractures, including those caused by osteoporosis, are getting effective, often immediate, relief from a new minimally invasive surgical procedure now available at Bridgeport Hospital.

The procedure, called kyphoplasty, involves the use of a special cementlike substance to repair the fracture as well as a balloon catheter similar to the one used in angioplasty for the heart.

“Kyphoplasty provides another effective option to the range of treatments available at Bridgeport Hospital for spinal fractures,” said Dr Kenneth Lipow, Bridgeport Hospital’s chief of neurosurgery and one of the experts who perform the new procedure.

The spine is made up of several small bones called vertebrae. A spine fracture (sometimes referred to as a vertebral compression fracture, or VCF) occurs when the thick block of bone at the front of the vertebra collapses, causing the spine to shorten and move forward. This results in spinal deformity and is often seen in elderly patients.

Commonly known as a dowager’s hump, this deformity is also referred to as “kyphosis.” The chest and abdomen become compressed making normal activities like walking, eating, and sleeping painful or difficult. Normal breathing is also affected by the spinal deformity and puts individuals at increased risk of nonspinal diseases. Many people find that they need to rely more on family and friends. This can lead to clinical anxiety and even depression.

Together, the medical problems related to spine fractures potentially lead to decreased activity and additional bone loss, further increasing the risk of future fractures. Every fracture can contribute to a downward spiral of compounding health problems.

Spine fractures are most often caused by osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural changes causing bones to become fragile and easily broken. Additionally, spine fractures can be caused by cancer or a traumatic incident, such as a fall or car accident.

Injecting cementlike material with the use of x-ray guidance to repair fractured vertebrae (known as vertebroplasty) has been performed successfully by surgeons for several years. The procedure stabilizes the fracture and provides immediate pain relief in many cases.

In kyphoplasty, a special balloon is inserted and inflated inside the fractured vertebra prior to injecting the cementlike material.

“The goal of this step is to restore height to the bone, thus reducing deformity of the spine,” Dr Lipow explained.

The balloon also compacts the soft inner bone to create a cavity inside the vertebra where the cementlike material is applied. This pasty material hardens quickly, stabilizing the bone.

According to Dr Lipow, another benefit of kyphoplasty is that most patients require only a short hospital stay.

“Kyphoplasty takes about one hour for each vertebra involved, and most patients are hospitalized for only one day following the procedure,” he said.