South Central Offers Spine Fracture Relief
While most people associate osteoporosis with hip fractures, the most common fracture caused by osteoporosis actually occurs in the spine. Every 45 seconds osteoporosis causes a spine fracture. More than 700,000 spine fractures in the U.S. occur each year. These fractures can be very painful and can have serious long-term consequences.
How Can a Spine Fracture Affect Your Health?
A patient’s initial fracture changes the alignment of the spine and increases the risk for future fractures five-fold or more. As more fractures occur, the spine shortens and falls forward, resulting in spinal deformity. Called kyphosis—or “dowager’s hump”—the deformity is often seen in older adults. The chest and abdomen become compressed, making normal activities—such as walking, eating, or sleeping—painful or difficult. Normal breathing also is affected by the spinal deformity and puts individuals at increased risk of disease. Spine fractures potentially lead to decreased activity and additional bone loss, further increasing the risk for future fracture.
You Don’t Have to Suffer
Dr. Steven Nowicki and Dr. Bill Morrison are now performing kyphoplasty at South Central—a minimally invasive procedure to repair spine fractures caused by osteoporosis.
Through a small incision, these orthopaedic surgeons create a narrow pathway into the fractured bone and insert a KyphX Balloon. The KyphX Balloon is inflated, moving the collapsed portion of the vertebra. This restores the fractured bone to its original shape. Once the surgeon has achieved the desired result, the KyphX Balloon is deflated and removed. The surgeon can then complete the procedure.
According to Drs. Nowicki and Morrison, patients with spine fractures who have this procedure typically will be hospitalized overnight and released the next day—pain free.
For more information on kyphoplasty, call Laurel Bone and Joint Clinic at 649-5990.
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