100-Year-Old Woman Gets Relief From Debilitating Back Pain After Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Main Category: Back Pain
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Bones / Orthopaedics;  Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 20 Oct 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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On World Osteoporosis Day, October 20, centenarian Helen Daniels of Poughkeepsie, NY, has a good reason to smile; she's able to comfortably walk again following minimally invasive spine surgery. After suffering two spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis, Mrs. Daniels had debilitating back pain. After being treated with a minimally invasive spinal procedure, called balloon kyphoplasty, she no longer suffers from back pain and is able to walk with the aid of a walker or cane.

Osteoporosis is a disease that leads to fragile bones and an increased susceptibility to fractures of the spine, hip or wrist. The degenerative disease is the main cause of the estimated 1.4 million vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) of the spine suffered annually worldwide that need the attention of a physician.i The International Osteoporosis Foundation is sponsoring World Osteoporosis Day on October 20 with the goal of informing and educating the patients and policy makers about osteoporosis prevention. The day encourages individuals to take steps to improve their bone health.

"World Osteoporosis Day is the ideal occasion to bring attention to this disease that affects an estimated 75 million people in the United States, Japan and Europe," said Alex DiNello, vice president and general manager, KYPHON® products, part of the Spinal and Biologics business at Medtronic. "Mrs. Daniels' positive outcome is further evidence, as supported in a recent studyii, that patients who are treated with balloon kyphoplasty may experience better quality of life, back function and back pain relief than those who undergo only non-surgical management."

Mrs. Daniels sustained two VCFs in December of 2008 and was treated at first with back braces and pain medication by her private care physician, Dr. Rajiv Narula. However, the pain persisted. Dr. Narula referred her to Dr. Kenneth Hansraj, an orthopedic spine specialist with New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine, who performed the balloon kyphoplasty procedure.

During the minimally invasive balloon kyphoplasty procedure that gave Mrs. Daniels relief from her back pain, tiny balloons are inserted into fractured vertebrae and inflated to create a space. The space created by the balloons is filled with a special type of cement to secure the position of the bones.

"Mrs. Daniels is in remarkable health and was an ideal candidate for the procedure," said Dr. Hansraj. "Today Mrs. Daniels reports no back pain, is walking and, most importantly, is enjoying her time with her four sons and eight grandchildren."

For more information on World Osteoporosis Day go to: http://www.iofbonehealth.org
More information on osteoporosis is located at http://www.nof.org.
For more information on balloon kyphoplasty, go to http://www.kyphon.com.
To locate a physician trained in balloon kyphoplasty, go here.

About Balloon Kyphoplasty

During the minimally invasive balloon kyphoplasty procedure, a needle and tube are used to create a small pathway into the fractured bone. Orthopedic balloons are inserted and then inflated inside the fractured bone in an attempt to restore vertebral body height and correct angular deformity. Inflation of the balloons creates cavities in the vertebral body that are filled with bone cement, forming an "internal cast" to support the surrounding bone and prevent further collapse.

More than 500,000 patients worldwide have been treated with balloon kyphoplasty. Balloon kyphoplasty differs from other surgical therapies for VCFs such as vertebroplasty, which is designed to stabilize the fracture without correcting vertebral body deformity or providing a controlled fill for bone cement distribution. With balloon kyphoplasty, inflation of the balloons compacts the cancellous bone, which may fill fracture lines and reduce leak pathways. The presence of the space also allows a more viscous bone cement to be injected under low manual pressure. These features are designed to potentially reduce the risk of leakage.

Risk Statement

The complication rate for KYPHON® Balloon Kyphoplasty is low, but all surgical procedures carry risk. Serious complications may occur, including leakage of bone cement, and in rare instances complications may result in death or paralysis. This procedure is not for everyone. A prescription is required. Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, benefits, and risks. Only you and your physician can determine whether this procedure is right for you.

About Medtronic's Spinal and Biologics Business

The Spinal and Biologics business is based in Memphis, Tenn. It is the global leader in today's spine market and is committed to advancing the treatment of spinal conditions. The Spinal and Biologics business works with world-renowned surgeons, researchers and innovative partners to offer state-of-the-art products and technologies for neurological, orthopedic, dental and spinal conditions. Medtronic is committed to developing affordable, minimally invasive procedures that provide lifestyle-friendly surgical therapies. More information about the company and its treatment therapies can be found at http://www.medtronic.com and its patient-education Web sites, http://www.back.com , www.iscoliosis.com , http://www.maturespine.com and http://www.necksurgery.com.

Source
Medtronic