Osteoporosis, which means “porous bone,” is a condition where bones become weak and brittle, making them more prone to fractures. When these fractures occur in the spine, they can lead to severe and persistent back pain. The Interventional Radiology (IR) team at PMC provides an outpatient procedure called kyphoplasty to help stabilize the affected vertebra and reduce  discomfort.

Kyphoplasty involves making a small incision and using a balloon to gently restore some of the lost height of the fractured vertebra. Medical-grade cement is then injected into the space to stabilize the bone. The procedure is performed with advanced imaging guidance and typically takes less than an hour per vertebra.

In many cases, patients experience significant pain relief shortly after the procedure. By treating the fracture directly, kyphoplasty can reduce or even eliminate the need for opioid pain medications, allowing patients to return to their normal activities more quickly.

The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, and most patients are able to go home after a short observation period in the recovery room, barring any complications.

By offering kyphoplasty, PMC’s interventional radiologists are helping improve the quality of life for patients affected by osteoporosis-related fractures— providing leading-edge care close to home.

To learn more about kyphoplasty at Pikeville Medical Center, visit https://www.pikevillehospital.org/interventional-radiology/.

The procedure, called kyphoplasty, is an outpatient surgery where cement is used to stabilize the fractured vertebra and restore some of the vertebra’s lost height caused by osteoporosis. In many patients, the kyphoplasty procedure drastically reduces pain, which, in turn, can eliminate or reduce the need to use opioid pain medication.

By offering the kyphoplasty procedure, interventional radiologists at PMC are doing more than simply repairing a fracture. Some patients report feeling relief from their back pain almost immediately improving their quality of life. The entire kyphoplasty procedure, including the injecting of the cement, is done with a small incision. Barring complications, the patient can typically go home after a few hours under observation in a recovery room.

The procedure, called kyphoplasty, is an outpatient surgery where cement is used to stabilize the fractured vertebra and restore some of the vertebra’s lost height caused by osteoporosis. In many patients, the kyphoplasty procedure drastically reduces pain, which, in turn, can eliminate or reduce the need to use opioid pain medication.

“By offering the kyphoplasty procedure, we are doing much more than repairing a fracture,” explained Ellen Adams, Director of the PMC Interventional Radiology Department. “Some patients say relief of their back pain is immediate, and that gives them their quality of life back.”

With IR, physicians use imaging techniques such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans and scopes equipped with tiny cameras to perform procedures. The images help interventional radiologists locate the exact spot where a procedure needs to be performed, reducing the need to make large incisions in many instances. The entire kyphoplasty procedure, including the injecting of the cement, is done with a small incision. Barring any complications, the patient is typically allowed to go home after spending a few hours under observation in a recovery room.

For more information on Pikeville Medical Center’s Interventional Radiology Department,  visit the Interventional Radiology page.