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Robert J. Berkowitz, MD
John K. Krebs, MD
Robert M. Zanotti, MD
Daniel J. Zanotti, MD
Stay informed
Kyphoplasty heals compression fractures
of the spine
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Relieves painful compression fractures
- Fast recovery
If you are suffering from one or more painful compression fractures of the spine, kyphoplasty can restore the normal size and shape of the vertebrae—and relieve your pain.
Dr. Robert Berkowitz answers questions
about kyphoplasty
 |
Robert Berkowitz, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with advanced training in back and neck surgery. |
What is a compression fracture?
“A compression fracture is a collapse of one of the vertebral bodies—the bones that make up your spine. If the collapse involves just the front part of the spine, the vertebra becomes wedge-shaped and is known as a compression fracture or wedge fracture. In cases where the entire vertebra is crushed, it is called a burst fracture.”
What causes compression fractures
of the spine?
- Osteoporosis can cause aging vertebral bones to change from being concrete-like to being more like Styrofoam. A compression fracture occurs when one of these building blocks or vertebral bodies squashes down as if you'd stepped on a piece of Styrofoam.
- A traumatic injury can also cause compression fractures of the spine.
What is kyphoplasty?
“Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that restores the height of a bone with a compression fracture and immediately relieves most, if not all, of the patient's pain.”
How is kyphoplasty performed?
“Kyphoplasty is done through two tiny incisions that we put Band-aids on afterwards. This procedure involves sticking a special needle into the Styrofoam-like bone with the compression fracture.
“The needle has a tiny balloon, which we inflate to ‘puff’ the bone back up again. Next, we deflate the balloon, pull it out of the bone and fill in the hole we just made with cement. Patients typically spend one night in the hospital for observation.”
Is a kyphoplasty necessary if compression fractures
aren't painful?
“No. Lots of people have compression fractures, but they don't all hurt. If an older adult is getting shorter or hunched over, but is not having pain, there's no indication to do a kyphoplasty.
“We only do a kyphoplasty for patients who have an acute injury with excruciating pain. It can be the most minimal trauma—one patient broke a vertebra while making her bed. Some people break a vertebra when they sneeze. Others have a fall or something more traumatic.”
Could kyphoplasty be right for you?
This information is simply an introduction to kyphoplasty. To diagnose and treat your spinal condition, we invite you to schedule a consultation with with one of our board-certified orthopedic surgeons.
Patient success story
‘I had kyphoplasty on Wednesday and went back to work on Friday’
After suffering compression fractures from falling off a ladder, Ralph, an active 55-year-old from Oberlin, Ohio, is living pain-free, thanks to kyphoplasty.
Ralph still remembers the night of his accident. “On a Monday night, I was cleaning out roof gutters,” he says. “The ladder slid out from underneath me and I landed on the edge of the steps of the backyard deck.
“It was very painful,” Ralph recalls. “I couldn't walk. I couldn't even sit. The only thing that made the pain somewhat tolerable is if I were lying down. I felt every bump on the way to the hospital.
“In the emergency room, they took x-rays and told me, ‘You broke your back,’” says Ralph. “They admitted me to the hospital and took me for an MRI the next morning. The next day, I was scheduled for kyphoplasty surgery with Dr. Berkowitz.
“Before my surgery, Dr. Berkowitz told me, ‘When you come out of surgery, what is hurting you now will not hurt anymore,’” Ralph recalls. “He was right—thank God!”
Ralph had kyphoplasty on Wednesday afternoon, went home that night and was back to work on Friday. “There was no pain,” he says, “although I was a little sore from the surgery. And I still had a few bumps and bruises from the fall. But as far as the surgery goes, that pain was totally gone.
“In just a matter of hours after I got out of recovery, I was walking the floors,” Ralph recalls. “I was very happy with the surgery and haven't had any issues with it since. I didn't even need physical therapy.
“About a week and a half after my surgery, Dr. Berkowitz took an x-ray and showed me everything was looking good,” Ralph says. “He told me I could go back to my normal activities.
“I'm perfectly happy with what Dr. Berkowitz did,” Ralph adds. “He was able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again, and I can go on doing what I enjoy doing.
“I know my grandsons are grateful, too,” he laughs, “because the last thing they want is to be pushing me around in a wheelchair.”
| Westlake Office 2211 Crocker Rd. Westlake, OH 44145 |