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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 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.

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