Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty
With the advancement of science and technology, the average life expectancy has increased, and naturally, even elderly individuals prefer to be on the move instead of going aside. After all, life requires movement. However, the aging society brings with it a number of medical problems. Osteoporosis, which is one of the most common diseases of this age, is one of them. Thanks to the fact that this issue has been more discussed both in the media and in the medical world in recent years, society has become conscious, but the problem still continues. Spinal fractures, hip fractures, and wrist fractures are common among osteoporosis-related fractures. Back or lower back pain due to a spinal fracture sometimes becomes unbearable and the patient becomes unable to meet even his/her simple daily needs.
Medication of pain, bed rest, and corset treatment are sometimes insufficient. In this case, cement injection is applied into the spine in order to prevent movement in the fracture area and to suppress edema in the bone marrow. This procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia. There are 2 different methods:
In vertebroplasty, the spine is entered through a 1 cm incision made on the skin. Cement is injected into the fracture area by means of metal tubes. In kyphoplasty, the balloon, which is passed through the tubes in the spine before the cement application, is inflated and the collapsed bone is lifted, and then the cement is filled into the space created by the balloon and the procedure is completed. The procedure takes an average of 30 minutes in vertebroplasty and 45-60 minutes in kyphoplasty. Patients generally experience the happiness of reducing their pain after the procedure to a great extent. Patients who receive local anesthesia can be discharged even on the same day.In Vertebroplasty, there is a possibility of mixing the applied cement into the spinal canal or blood with the effect of pressure. This rate is lower in patients who underwent kyphoplasty with a balloon because the risk of leakage is reduced thanks to the space created for cement.
