Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty and Pain Management
Of the 500,000 vertebral compression fractures Americans experience each year, 85 percent result from osteoporosis, and nearly one-third become a source of chronic pain.
Every day, The Vascular Center at Mary Black performs minimally invasive, state-of-the-art procedures — like vertebroplasty and fluoroscopic pain management — designed to relieve pain, increase mobility and improve the quality of life of our patients.
An alarming statistic
Nearly 500,000 people in the US each year suffer from compression fractures of the spine. Though most commonly caused by osteoporosis, these fractures can also result from trauma and specific types of tumors. Often, when conventional forms of treatment — like bed rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy — prove ineffective, many patients are forced to make a difficult decision: undergo invasive back surgery, or learn to deal with excruciating pain, loss of mobility and a decreased quality of life. Until now.
Staffed by interventional radiologists, The Vascular Center offers a minimally invasive procedure designed to provide significant relief of the pain associated with vertebral compression fractures. Called vertebroplasty, this state-of-the-art technique supplies a patient’s damaged vertebrae with an “internal cast” that eliminates pain and promotes healing.
First performed in the U.S. in 1995, vertebroplasty is ideal for patients who are otherwise not candidates for surgery. During the outpatient procedure, an acrylic “bone cement” is injected into the damaged vertebrae through a special needle. A short time later, the cement solidifies and actually becomes harder than the native bone material. Using this technique, crushed bone fragments are “fused together” and no longer rub against delicate nerve endings. The results are astounding. In fact, studies have shown 85 percent to 90 percent of all patients experience immediate pain relief within hours of undergoing the procedure. |
 |
Although a highly effective new medical technology, vertebroplasty is not intended for everyone who experiences chronic back pain — even if they suffer from vertebral compression fractures. Not all back pain is caused by these types of fractures. And not every fracture results in pain and loss of mobility. A consultation between patient and physician can best determine eligibility for the procedure.
The right treatment for each patient
Vertebroplasty is just one of the many pain-relieving medical procedures performed daily by The Vascular Center’s team of skilled, caring professionals. With physician guidance, the vascular team provides individualized pain management solutions grounded in both compassion and technology.
Among these solutions are several procedures utilizing fluoroscopic (the use of “real-time” X-rays) technology — epidural injections, nerve root blocks or radiofrequency ablation — designed to help physicians locate and deliver therapeutic steroids and/or anesthetics to the exact site of a patient’s pain. Both types of procedures alleviate discomfort and increase mobility, ensuring a better quality of life.
Once it is determined a patient is a candidate for vertebroplasty, or one of the other non-surgical, fluoroscopic pain management procedures offered by The Vascular Center, please call (864) 596-7428 to schedule an appointment.
|