Vertebral Augmentation
Vertebral Compression Fractures Are Underdiagnosed
Vertebral compression fractures are common and are a growing concern for older adults. Each year, more than 800,000 women and men are diagnosed with vertebral compression fractures. Many more people are suffering with back pain from undiagnosed fractures. A vertebral spinal compression fracture occurs when the small bones that make up the spine, the vertebra, are crushed, or compressed.
Trauma and tumors can cause compression fractures, but more often they are caused by osteoporosis, a gradual thinning of the bone. Once the bones are weak, something as simple as a cough or a sneeze can cause a fracture.
Initially the pain may not be severe, and a person may attribute general backaches to getting older. But if that backache has been caused by a spinal fracture, it can set the stage for more fractures, which can lead to severe pain and a deformed spine resulting in severe disability. Therefore, it is critical that spinal fractures be diagnosed and treated early.
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Spinal Fracture Symptoms
- Worsening back pain upon standing or walking
- Sudden onset of back pain
- Limited mobility
- Loss of height
- Deformity and disability
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Risk Factors
- Age 50 or older and postmenopausal women
- Sedentary lifestyle
- History of smoking cigarettes
- Long-term use of certain medication
(e.g., steroids)
- Family history of osteoporosis or a relative who broke a hip or had a spinal fracture or hunched back
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Take our simple quiz to see if you are at risk for spinal compression fractures. If you think you might have a spinal fracture, see your doctor as soon as possible. If caught early, spinal fractures can be repaired.
Access to the Exceptional—Cutting-Edge Treatment with Excellent Results
The board-certified, experienced Interventional Neuroradiologists at the Alexian Brothers Neurosciences Institute expertly perform vertebral augmentation, a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure to treat spinal fractures. Up to 90% of patients report a dramatic reduction or complete relief of pain and increased mobility within 72 hours after the procedure.
For more information about the vertebral augmentation procedure performed in our state-of-the-art neuro biplane suite equipped with the most precise instruments available, click here.
