Lose height from compression fracture? How Kyphoplasty can make you taller.

A compression fracture can be agonizing, resulting in “disabling pain and decreased functional capacity,” according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine—National Institutes of Health. But it can also have other, equally debilitating, effects, like a loss of height. A revolutionary minimally invasive treatment called Kyphoplasty may be able to restore the height you lost while it’s repairing your fracture.

What is Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is being used by leading spine doctors with great success to treat compression fractures. Most of these fractures are caused by osteoporosis. “The disease accounts for an estimated annual incidence of 700,000 fractures per year; of these, approximately 260,000 are vertebral compression fractures,” said Medscape.

The procedure uses tiny, 3mm incisions and a cement-like substance to provide stabilization for the fractured bone. “First, a small balloon is inserted in the vertebrae,” said DISC Spine Institute. “The balloon is inflated to create a void in the bone for the cement to sit in. Then, it’s deflated and removed, and the cement is injected. The procedure was introduced in the 1990s and has been refined and perfected over the years, making it a great choice for those looking for relief from compression fractures.”

Kyphoplasty is typically quick and easy to tolerate, often requiring only local anesthetic, they added. “Some patients go home the same day; if multiple vertebrae were involved, a short hospital stay may be required.”

How can Kyphoplasty make you taller

Without treatment, compression fractures can cause the vertebrae to start to collapse on itself, leading to a humped spine. Inserting the balloon into the vertebrae creates a vehicle by which the cement can travel into the vertebral body, but the procedure also helps to elevate the collapsed vertebral endplate, resulting in restored height and corrected posture.

What are the advantages of Kyphoplasty

One of the main benefits of Kyphoplasty is that, “Pain reduction or elimination is immediate,” said Medscape. Also, “The risk of complications is low,” as is true for minimally invasive procedures in general.

For those who are looking to increase height that’s been lost because of compression fractures, Kyphoplasty has been shown to be successful. “In some studies, Kyphoplasty was shown to restore up to 93 percent of lost height due to compression factors,” said DISC Spine Institute.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine—National Institutes of Health (NCBI) found Kyphoplasty to be effective at the restoration of lost vertebral height and noted that the minimally invasive procedure was “associated with significant decreases in pain scores, daily morphine consumption and improvement in patient-reported functional measures.”

When it’s time to see a doctor

Ready to get treatment for your compression fracture and learn more about Kyphoplasty? If you’ve been dealing with pain and it’s not getting better, it might be time to find a leading back doctor. The good news for those suffering from chronic pain due to compression fractures or another minimally invasive procedure is treating chronic back pain is easier than ever, with outpatient treatments, small incisions, and a quicker recovery time instead of a long hospital stay.

For more information, contact DISC Spine Institute, experts in minimally invasive treatments like Kyphoplasty.