Palomar Neurosurgery Center

Osteoporosis in the Spine
RELATED ITEMS Dr. Kevin Yoo Office Information Patient Forms Hospitals TESTIMONIALS Patients on Dr. Yoo HAVE A QUESTION? Contact Us		High Tech Treatment Options Ten million Americans – men and women – have osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Each year, porous bones in these individuals are responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures or cracks; 700,000 of these fractures occur in the vertebrae or spinal bones. Compression fractures result in loss of height and kyphosis, an excessive curvature of the spine, more commonly called hump-back. Today, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are the procedures most frequently used to treat vertebrae fractures. During kyphoplasty, a balloon is inserted by a needle into the vertebrae. The balloon is carefully inflated to create a cavity or hole in the bone, restoring the spine to its original height and correct position. After deflating the balloon, a special type of cement is pushed into the cavity. The placement of the cement effectively treats the pain that comes from the broken spine, creates stability for the broken bone and restores height. During vertebroplasty, bone cement is injected without using a balloon. Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty can be used to treat compression fractures that result from cancerous lesions in the spine. This may be done when a biopsy is performed immediately before injecting the cement through the same needle. In such cases, the injection of bone cement provides pain control as well as stabilization of the lesions to prevent further collapse. Both procedures are usually performed using local anesthesia and, depending on the number of bones to be treated, take less than an hour. Most patients experience complete or significant pain reduction almost immediately. Kevin Yoo, M.D. a neurosurgeon and director of Palomar Neurosurgery Center, and Bassam Georgy, M.D., a board-certified interventional neuroradiologist at Valley Radiology Consultants perform these high tech procedures. “Traditional surgery, if the patient could tolerate it, would require large incisions, removal of all broken bones and the replacement of bones with metal instruments,” says Dr. Yoo. “With kyphoplasty, the surgery is done under local anesthesia and completed in one or two hours.” “Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are two procedures that can significantly improve the quality of a person's life by reducing or eliminating the pain associated with osteoporotic fractures in the spine,” says Dr. Georgy. He has performed more than 1,000 of these procedures and has seen firsthand how patients’ lives are improved. “Before vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, most patients with spinal fractures had to rely on medications to relieve their pain,” says Dr. Georgy. “These treatments are very safe and have few risks. There is a very short recovery time and patients can usually go back to their normal activities the next day.” Palomar Pomerado Health and the Women’s Health Center offer resources and information about osteoporosis, including classes, lectures, an Osteoporosis Support Group. For more information call The HealthSource, 800.628.2880 or visit *www.pph.org.* Additional information is available from: Palomar Neurosurgery Center 760.740.9394 www.palomar-neurosurgery.com Valley Radiology Consultants 760.520.8500 www.valleyrad.com Osteoporosis Awareness You are more likely to have osteoporosis if you are female, have a thin or small frame, are past menopause and are over the age of 50. Other factors include: Family history of osteoporosis Abnormal absence of menstrual periods Anorexia nervosa A diet low in calcium and vitamin D Certain medications, such as corticosteroids and anticonvulsants An inactive lifestyle Cigarette smoking Excessive use of alcohol Being Caucasian or Asian If you think you might have osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Prevention Tips A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D Weight-bearing exercise A healthy lifestyle--no smoking or excessive alcohol intake Bone density testing and medication, when appropriateSource: National Osteoporosis Foundation, www.nof.org

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