What is the surgical procedure for a spinal compression fracture in India?

Surgery for Spinal Compression Fractures

In some cases, the patient needs surgical treatment for spinal compression fractures, no matter what the reason. Undergoing spine surgery for spinal compression fracture helps to:

• Ease of movement
• Reduce the back pain
• Restore posture
• Repair the fracture

The most common surgical procedures for this issue are vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, and lumbar fusion.

Lumbar fusion

During lumbar fusion, the vertebrae are connected with rods. During the minimally invasive lumbar fusion, the spine bones are joined together in the lower back so that there is no motion between them. Undergoing this procedure helps in providing benefits like:

• Nerve damage
• Correct deformity
• Fracture repair
• Reduce spinal pressure
• Reduce pain

Minimally invasive surgery is a new approach to correct the issue, so there is no need to make large incisions or the muscle retraction which is used in traditional methods. The recovery time of this procedure is less as compared to traditional surgical methods. One of the recent advancements made in this is the use of computerized image guidance systems. This approach helps the surgeon to place the screws in the correct position, and this way the chances of injury are reduced to a great extent, especially to the delicate nerve tissues.

Vertebroplasty

During vertebroplasty, the needle is put through the skin on the patient’s back. The doctor will perform an X-ray so that it is checked the fractured vertebrae are entered. The fractured vertebrae are injected with the bone cement, and this way it will be hardened so that the bone gets stability and relief.

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty

Both these procedures are advanced that helps in the following things:

• Restore alignment
• Take away the pressure from the nerves
• Reconstruct compressed vertebral bone

This procedure is done by administering the patient general anesthesia. With the help of an X-ray, 1 to 2 needles are inserted into the problematic area from the back. Into the fractured area, the cement is added, and once it gets hard the patient will have stability, and the pain will get reduced.

Kyphoplasty

During kyphoplasty, the surgeon adds the catheter into the vertebrae, following that small balloon is inserted and inflated. This procedure is also called ‘Balloon Vertebroplasty’ that is kind of similar to vertebroplasty. The balloon will reach the vertebrae with the help of a needle. By doing so, the abdominal wedging is corrected. When everything is done, the balloon is deflated and removed & the large area is filled with bone cement. Once the cement gets hard, it is going to provide stability and the benefits the patient needs.