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Spine fractures/vertebral compression fractures

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects 10 million Americans. Another 44 million Americans have low bone density, which puts them at an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Women are four times as likely to develop the disease than men, and caucasian and Asian women are at a higher risk than women of other ethnicities. The doctors at Memphis Vascular Center offer minimally invasive treatments for common musculoskeletal problems, such as spine fractures, and we anticipate there will be more such treatments available in the future.

More than a million spine fractures occur each year and osteoporosis is most often the cause. With low bone density, the vertebra within the spine can weaken and collapse. Also known as a vertebral compression fracture, this can cause great pain and discomfort as well as the loss of mobility.

Studies have shown that people with a spine fracture are also at a much higher risk for developing additional fractures, along with reduced lung function, difficulty controlling their bladder or bowels, decreased quality of life and death.1,2,3

spine fracture treatment - TN
Orthopedic Brochure

Spine fracture treatment options at Memphis Vascular Center

Conservative treatment such as pain medication, back braces and physical therapy can help to control the pain, but they do not address the cause of the pain–the spine fracture itself. New and minimally invasive approaches to treating spine fractures are now available as a safe and effective alternative to surgery.

Vertebroplasty is a procedure where an interventional radiologist uses imaging to guide a needle into the collapsed vertebra. A special, fast-drying cement is then injected into the bone, stabilizing and strengthening it.

Kyphoplasty is similar to vertebroplasty, except a medical-grade balloon is first inserted into the collapsed vertebra and inflated to restore height to the vertebra. When the balloon is deflated and removed, cement is injected into the hollow cavity it leaves behind, resulting in a more natural shape to the bone.
Both procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. In addition, most patients will experience immediate pain relief after the procedure.

  1. Lindsay R, Silverman SL, Cooper C, et al. Risk of new vertebral fracture in the year following a fracture. JAMA. 2001 Jan 17;285(3):320–3.
  2. Kado DM, Browner WS, Palermo L, Nevitt MC, Genant HK, Cummings SR. Vertebral fractures and mortality in older women: a prospective study. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Arch Intern Med. 1999 Jun 14;159(11):1215–20.
  3. Huang MH, Barrett-Connor E, Greendale GA, Kado DM. Hyperkyphotic posture and risk of future osteoporotic fractures: the Rancho Bernardo study. J Bone Miner Res. 2006 Mar;21(3):419–23.

Vertebral Compression Spine Fractures FAQs

A vertebral compression fracture occurs when one of the vertebrae within the spine weakens and collapses. It can cause great pain and limit one’s mobility. A VCF is usually the result of osteoporosis, a condition where low bone density makes the bones within the spine weak and susceptible to fracture.

Conservative treatments including medication, physical therapy and back braces are used to control the pain of a VCF. In some cases, spine surgery may be recommended. However, there are two minimally invasive procedures performed at Memphis Vascular Center that can treat the underlying fracture and restore height to the collapsed vertebra: Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty.

Vertebroplasty is performed by an interventional radiologist who uses imaging to guide a needle into the spine fracture. A fast-drying bone cement is injected into the bone, which stabilizes and strengthens the bone.

Kyphoplasty is performed in a similar fashion to vertebroplasty, except that a special balloon is inflated within the vertebra. The balloon is then deflated, and the fast-drying bone cement is injected into the hollow cavity created by the balloon. In addition to strengthening the bone, this procedure restores height to the vertebra.

Most patients will experience immediate pain relief after their procedure and regain their mobility quickly. Since vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are not surgical procedures, there is no long recovery period, and patients can resume normal activities almost immediately.

Yes, these procedures are covered by most private insurance and Medicare. If you have any questions related to your specific insurance covering the procedure, please contact us!

Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are FDA-approved and proven safe after many years of clinical study.

Contact us at 901-683-1890 for more information about spine fractures treatment. Or schedule an appointment online HERE.

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