Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to weaken and break easily. Osteoporosis develops when a person has bone loss and reduced bone formation, which leads to a decrease in bone mass or density. Osteoporosis can occur as a result of growing older, hormonal changes and steroid use. Menopause is often a reason for loss of bone density. As few as 40 percent of all post-menopausal women have normal bone density. Osteoporosis also occurs in patients who are immobile for prolonged periods and unable to exercise. It can also occur in patients who are on dialysis due to chronic renal failure.

Spinal fractures due to osteoporosis can occur without any bodily trauma. Compression fractures of the spine occur when a vertebra loses height and collapses, causing sudden, severe pain in the upper chest, side of chest or abdomen. As much as 75 percent of all compression fractures in osteoporotic patients are unrelated to acute body trauma. Conservative treatment with pain medications and bed rest in this group of patients can lead to numerous complications and the pain symptoms may take several weeks to respond to treatment.

Kyphoplasty, a groundbreaking, minimally invasive FDA approved procedure, is now available to treat patients with spinal compression fractures due to osteoporosis. During kyphoplasty, the surgeon, using a low-dose X-ray and computer navigation, guides an inflatable balloon into the spinal fracture and inflates it within the bone to restore the fractured vertebrae to its proper height. The balloon is then removed, leaving a small void. A needle with bone cement is then guided into the void and the cement is injected, filling the void. This special cement hardens in seven minutes and restores the normal height of the vertebrae.

Patients with vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis who do not respond to conservative treatment, and patients with tumors affecting the spine may be candidates for kyphoplasty. Patients obtain the best results when fractures are treated with kyphoplasty within three months of onset of a fracture. The kyphoplasty procedure takes about one hour, and patients stay in bed for two hours after the procedure. Immediate pain relief and return to normal mobility occurs in over 90 percent of cases. Patients are discharged the same day or after an overnight stay.

To make an appointment at the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery for an osteoporosis-related spine condition, please call (212) 523-6720.

The Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Roosevelt Hospital
1000 Tenth Avenue (at 59th Street)
Suite 5G-80
New York, NY 10019