Spinal deformity attributed to undiagnosed or untreated spinal compressions and osteoporotic fractures can reduce mobility. People with such a condition can spend days bedridden or in the hospital while undergoing treatment. While bracing, physical therapy, and pain drugs are some of the options used to address this problem, vertebral augmentation (Kyphoplasty) has proven effective. It shows an impressive 22% mortality reduction over nonsurgical treatment options, with roughly 75% of patients regaining lost mobility. The increased motion is essential in combating the impact of the spinal injury.
Pain linked to a spinal injury can significantly impact your life, affecting your basic daily activities. The situation can be depressing when you are going for different treatment options but see no sign of getting better. At Carolina Spine & Pain, we take a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating the underlying causes and pain management. We can conduct kyphoplasty in Spartanburg, SC to help people with spinal fractures recover from their injuries. Get in touch with us at 864-808-2995 or visit our Spartanburg injury and pain clinic to learn why we are the best Kyphoplasty facility in the area
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What Is Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat vertebrae fractures often associated with osteoporosis (a health condition that weakens bones, increasing the risk of breaking). Osteoporosis can develop slowly and is usually diagnosed after an individual falls or is in an accident that results in bone fractures. The injury can damage the spine, reaching the vertebra in some cases. It can result in bone fragments rubbing against each other or protruding into the nerve roots or spinal canal, causing severe pain.
We recommend Kyphoplasty because we are confident it is an effective treatment for stabilizing the vertebra and reducing the pain. The doctor will ask you to lie face down on a unique operating table and then make a half-inch incision on the area to be operated on before inserting a narrow tube. The doctor then pushes a bone tamp (special balloon) through the tube and inflates it gently.
The inflated balloon creates an open cavity inside the affected bone, restoring the collapsed vertebra to its normal height. A fast hardening bone cement is then pumped into the new cavity, creating an internal cast. The procedure firms the fractured vertebra and can be done on either side of the vertebral body, ensuring uniformity when correcting the osteoporosis deformity.
How Does Kyphoplasty Work?
Before undergoing the kyphoplasty procedure, the attending doctor will take you through the various requirements to ensure you are adequately prepped. At Carolina Spine & Pain, all kyphoplasty patients are informed of the before, during, and after requirements and expectations.
Before the Kyphoplasty
We shall conduct a comprehensive medical consultation to ensure you understand why the procedure is beneficial to treating your condition and alleviating pain. We shall contact you a day before undergoing the Kyphoplasty in Spartanburg, SC, and hand essential instructions on preparing for the procedure and what time we expect you to arrive at the clinic. We highly recommend arriving at least three hours before your scheduled procedure to ensure everything, including your lab work, is in order.
Avoid eating eight hours before having the Kyphoplasty, and take clear liquids, preferably water, to stay hydrated. Avoid cream, milk, and acidic juices. Moreover, do not take any alcohol, blood thinners, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or smoke in the days leading to the procedure. It is best to consult your doctor if you are on any medications and take any drugs using small sips of water.
Moreover, we highly advise against driving yourself back after undergoing the procedure. It is best to call someone to pick you up. Therefore, pack something interesting that will help you pass the time are you recoup from the treatment.
During Kyphoplasty
At Carolina Spine & Pain, we are committed to ensuring you feel comfortable under our care. Therefore, our physicians will be on hand to answer any questions you have about the procedure. Also, take that opportunity to inform them of any allergies or health issues you might have before the treatment.
When the procedure starts, the doctor will have you lie on the operating table with your face down and ensure you are as comfortable as possible. The position provides unrestricted access to your back. You then will be injected with an antibiotic to curb potential infections, and the areas to be worked on sterilized using a local anesthetic. You will also receive a mild sedative to help you relax without putting you to sleep.
The doctor then makes a tiny incision before using a special X-ray machine (fluoroscope) to insert a narrow tube into the damaged vertebrae. Then, a tiny bone tamp is pushed into the tube before inflating to restore the collapsed vertebrae’s lost height. The doctor injects medical-grade cement into the opened cavity, which will harden within minutes to mimic the bone’s natural structure and sturdiness.
The procedure will take about an hour but can take longer if more than one site must be treated.
After Kyphoplasty
After the procedure, the nurse will take you to a recovery room, where you will be monitored for several hours to ensure you have no reactions to the anesthetic. You can go home the same day if all goes well. We recommend having someone pick you instead of driving home or booking a hotel overnight if you do not stay in Spartanburg.
The injection site in your back might feel a bit sore for a couple of days after the treatment. You can place an ice pack for roughly 15 -20 minutes every hour to help limit swelling and pain. Moreover, keep the bandage on the site for the recommended days, ensuring the area around the wound is dry and clean.
You might regain some mobility hours after the procedure or after a day or two; however, take things slowly. Exercise caution as you gradually increase activity, adhering to the physicians’ instructions. Also, consult your doctor about restarting any prescription drugs you have stopped taking due to the procedure.
Rest assured that our team will follow up with you to ensure that you are recovering, and we can provide rehab treatment on an outpatient basis if you reside in Spartanburg, SC.
What Are the Risks of Kyphoplasty?
While we are confident that Kyphoplasty is an effective treatment option, it has some surgical risks. That is why we advise patients to take the time to learn all they can about Kyphoplasty in Spartanburg, SC to make an informed decision. Some of the possible risks include:
Bone Cement Leakage
It happens when the injected bone cement goes beyond the targeted vertebrae compression cracks. However, it rarely results in any adverse complications.
Paralysis
Such an unfortunate issue, though rare, can happen due to some unexpected factors, such as nerve root or spinal cord damage during the procedure, like if the cement leaks excessively onto a nerve root or the spinal cord.
Persistent or Worsened Pain
The treatment can fail to alleviate the pain making things worse instead, like when the bone cement leaks onto the spinal cord or a nerve root.
Pulmonary Embolism
The risk of a pulmonary embolism can arise when the bone cement leaks into a vertebral vein and travels to the lungs, and blocks an artery.
Allergic Reaction
Some patients can develop an allergic reaction to the bone cement or any other agent used in the procedure.
Why Is Carolina Spine & Pain the Place to Go for Kyphoplasty in Spartanburg, SC?
At Carolina Spine & Pain, we know the impact pain can have on your health and overall way of life. Living with chronic back, joint, and bone aches and pain can be exhausting. Things seem to worsen when you keep going for treatments that offer no solutions. Moreover, the failure to find a cure can be attributed to misdiagnosis or inefficient treatment options.
Carolina spine & Pain is a health wellness center that uses a multidisciplinary approach to help people with pain. Everyone that comes to us for help is taken through a comprehensive consultation to determine the nature of their problem. We then will develop a unique treatment plan depending on the patient’s condition and health to ensure we stop the pain and correct the underlying causes.
Our physicians are highly trained and experienced professionals working in a facility that uses the latest medical equipment and minimally invasive procedures to treat different conditions. Get in touch with us today if you are searching for reliable and dedicated professionals to help you heal and return to your usual way of life.
Get Your Kyphoplasty Done at Carolina Spine & Pain
Pain linked to a spinal injury can significantly impact your life, affecting your basic daily activities. The situation can be depressing when you are going for different treatment options but see no sign of getting better.
At Carolina Spine & Pain, we have doctors specializing in chiropractic care to help patients with pain. We take a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating the underlying causes and pain management. We can conduct kyphoplasty in Spartanburg, SC to help people with spinal fractures recover from their injuries. Get in touch with us at 864-808-2995 or visit our clinic if you are searching for the best Kyphoplasty in Spartanburg, South Carolina.