Restore Normal Spinal Strength & Mobility with Kyphoplasty Specialists In Arizona

Vertebral compression fractures affect about 12-20% of adults aged above 50, making it among the most prevalent spinal fractures. At his private practice in Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona, Dr. Kirk Minkus, MD addresses vertebral compression fractures through a minimally-invasive treatment known as kyphoplasty. Dr. Minkus utilizes his extensive interventional radiology experience to perform kyphoplasties to restore normal spinal mobility and strength. You cannot undergo kyphoplasty once your bone heals, so seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you struggle with spinal fractures in Mesa and Gilbert, AZ, get in touch with the office near you.

What causes spinal fractures?

The human vertebrae in one's spine may suffer different types of fractures, but there are two leading causes. One can fracture one or more vertebrae because of high-energy trauma, such as an auto accident or falls. Alte atively, your vertebra might collapse without significant injury because it is extremely weak; this form of fracture is known as a vertebra compression fracture.

What causes vertebral compression fracture?

Although trauma or tumor might cause a vertebral compression fracture, most come about because of osteoporosis. Over one's lifetime, the body progressively eliminates damaged or old bone and replaces it with a new and healthy bone, known as remodeling.

As long as remodeling remains in check, your bones stay strong. But if the old bone is removed faster than it's replaced, the bone loses mass, thus becoming weak and brittle, a condition referred to as osteoporosis. This condition makes your vertebra extremely weak, causing it to collapse during one's day-to-day activities. At times, bending or coughing might put enough stress on your vertebra to result in a compression fracture.

What are the symptoms of a spinal compression fracture?

Most patients will experience pain immediately after the vertebra collapses. Typically, the pain feels better while at rest and worsens once you're active. With time, one's upper back might result in a rounded appearance, the condition referred to as kyphosis.

When the compression fracture occurs, the front vertebra side collapses, but the rear remains intact. Once the surrounding vertebra begins experiencing compression fractures, these wedge-shaped bones develop a rounded shape.

How to treat spinal compression fractures

Dr. Minkus administers a minimally-invasive treatment known as kyphoplasty to repair compression fractures. He utilizes ultra-imaging technology to visualize your spine and guide a hollow needle into your damaged vertebrae during a procedure.

Once the needle is well-positioned, Dr. Minkus drives a balloon into the vertebra and inflates it to restore your bone's natural shape and height. Once the balloon is removed, this space is filled using bone cement. This cement keeps the shape of your vertebra and allows your fracture to heal completely. Thus, you achieve lasting pain relief and restore your normal spine movement and strength.

To sum up, Dr. Minkus, MD, is a professional in interventional radiology, specializing in venous disease and peripheral arterial disease, and has extensive experience administering minimally-invasive treatments. Do not wait to book your appointment because you won't benefit from kyphoplasty once your bone heals. Once you realize an alarming symptom, i.e., back pain, immediately request an appointment with Kirk Minkus, MD, by calling the office or using the convenient online booking tool.