Painful Spine Fractures Which Affect Millions Of Older Adults With Osteoporosis Can Be Fixed Without Major Surgery

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Also Included In: Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy
Article Date: 11 Mar 2008 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Advanced age, asthma, diabetes, emphysema, menopause, chronic steroid use and rheumatoid arthritis are all risk factors for osteoporosis. The resultant weakening of bones can lead to compression fractures of the spine causing severe pain, deformity, loss of height, immobilization, and in some cases, failure to thrive.

According to estimated figures from the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the disease was responsible for 547,000 vertebral fractures in 2005. Historically, vertebral compression fractures have been treated either conservatively or with major surgery. These treatments are limited by long recovery times and disruption of daily life. Now, these painful spine fractures can be treated with a procedure known as vertebroplasty, an innovative alternative to traditional treatments which stabilizes fractures of the spine safely and effectively, often providing immediate pain relief.

"After performing more than 3,000 vertebroplasties, I can confirm that this is one of the most significant procedures for the treatment for vertebral compression fractures," said Dr. Robert Waldrip, Orthopedic Surgeon, Southwest Spinal Surgeons.

"The beauty of this procedure is its simplicity," continued Dr. Waldrip. "A small needle is advanced into the fracture using only local anesthetic followed by the placement of bone cement into the fractured area. The cement hardens in about 10 minutes and remarkably the pain is gone."

Studies have shown patients who undergo vertebroplasty experience 90 percent or better reduction in pain within 24 hours and increased ability to perform daily activities soon thereafter. The procedure requires no overnight stay or general anesthesia, reducing the risk of complications.

"The vertebroplasty procedure was so easy," said Shelby Brewer, 69, who has osteoporosis and fractured a vertebra when she fell. "This procedure is absolutely wonderful. It would have taken four or five months on heavy pain medication for me to heal without this procedure. I can't say enough about what it did for me."

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women. One in two women and one in four men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their remaining lifetime.(National Osteoporosis Foundation.)

To learn more about this procedure, visit http://www.vertebroplasty.com.