Kyphoplasty

If you develop pain due to spinal compression fractures, visit the Interventional Pain Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Anesthesiologist and fellowship-trained interventional pain medicine physician James Stephens, DO, offers kyphoplasty procedures to repair fractures, diminish pain, and reduce the risk of complications. Call the office to schedule an appointment, or use the online booking feature today.

What is kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a minor procedure used to treat compression fractures in your spine, in which all or part of a bone in your spine collapses. During the procedure, Dr. Stephens injects medical cement to repair the fracture. He sometimes uses a balloon to expand the affected area before inserting the cement into your spine. 

Who benefits from kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty procedures repair spinal fractures, which are common among older people, patients who have been injured, and those with osteoporosis. Dr. Stephens may suggest the procedure if you have had disabling or severe pain for several months that hasn’t improved with conservative treatments. You might also be a candidate for kyphoplasty if you have cancer.

To determine which spinal fracture treatment is best, Dr. Stephens discusses your medical history and symptoms, completes a physical exam, and orders X-rays or other imaging procedures before personalizing a treatment plan.

What happens during a kyphoplasty procedure?

Before undergoing kyphoplasty, it’s important to follow your pre-surgery instructions. You may have to avoid food and drink the morning of the procedure, make arrangements for a ride home afterward, and stop taking certain medicines.

You could receive local anesthesia with a sedative to relax you or general anesthesia that puts you to sleep.

While you lie face down on an exam table, Dr. Stephens cleans the treatment area on your back and numbs it. He places a needle through your skin into your spine and uses X-ray guidance to ensure proper needle placement. He may use a tiny balloon to inflate the area before injecting medical cement into the empty space to repair a spinal fracture.

What should I expect after kyphoplasty?

After the procedure, you can usually go home the same day. Get plenty of rest, take medicines as directed, ice the treatment area, and gradually return to your typical daily activities as instructed. Avoid strenuous activity until given permission by Dr. Stephens. You might undergo physical therapy or additional pain management treatments in addition to properly managing osteoporosis.

To learn more about kyphoplasty at the Interventional Pain Center and determine if it’s right for you, schedule an appointment by phone or request one online today.