New Options Available To Treat Spinal Fractures From Osteoporosis (NAPSA)—Doctors have found a surprising way to help spines fractured by osteoporosis. This disease, in which bones become fragile and easily broken, causes over 700,000 spinal fractures annually in the U.S.—more than in the hip and wrist combined. Approximately two-thirds of all spinal fractures go undiagnosed or untreated due to the absence of symptomsor difficulty determining the cause of symptoms, leading some to call osteoporosis a “silent disease.” Since 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men older than 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime and bone loss can begin as early as 25, now is the time to take a closer look at osteoporosis and new options for treating fractures caused by osteoporosis. Through proper diagnosis and treatment, spinal fracture sufferers can significantly improve their ability to perform normalactivities of daily living and enjoy an overall improvement in their quality oflife. Dr. Steven Garfin, Professor and Chairman, Department of Orthopedics, University of California, San Diego and past-president of the North American Spine Soci- ety, offers some answers. How commonis osteoporosis and to what might it lead? The National Osteoporosis Foundation cites osteoporosis as a major public health threat affecting 44 million Americans. While a calcium-rich diet, weight-bearing exercise and the avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol can help prevent bone mass loss, osteoporosis ranks second only to cardiovascular disease as a leading health care problem according to the World Health Organization. With osteoporosis, bones in our spine, hips and wrist deteriorate and might become susceptible to fractures. In the spine, small fractures cause the bones to compress upon each other (called vertebral compression fractures or VCFs). Left untreated, these VCFs create a curvature of the spine, some- times referred to as “dowager’s hump.” Over time, this curvature can become more pronounced, painful and debilitating. How do I knowif I have osteoporosis? Bone loss happens without notice—it doesn’t hurt or cause much trouble at first, though left unchecked it might cause lifetime of disability and even hasten death. Talk to your doctor about bone health and taking a bone density test. What happensto you if you havea spinalfracture? After experiencing one fracture, continued bone loss raises the risk of a future fracture fivefold. In addition, just one fracture affects how weight is distributed through the spine, thus placing higher than normal stress on the front of the spine, which contributes to the risk of future fracture. With additional fractures, it can become progressively difficult to walk, eat, and sleep due to pain and the unnatural compression. See a doctor to determine your condition and appropriate treatment, as there may be different explanations for why you are experiencing back pain. What options do I haveif I suffer a spinal fracture? Traditional treatments for spinal fractures include extended bed rest, pain medication and back braces, all of which can relieve pain but do not address the deformity caused by the fracture. Open surgery is also an option, but it is more invasive than nonsurgical management and is typically reserved for patients with neurological complications. Balloon Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, is designed to repair the fracture and restore the vertebra to the correct position. Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to significantly reduce back pain, correct spinal deformity and improve quality oflife. Howis Balloon Kyphoplasty performed? Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed underlocal or general anesthesia. It typically takes less than one hour to treat each fracture and may require an overnight hospital stay. Does insurance cover Balloon Kyphoplasty? In most cases, Medicare provides coverage for kyphoplasty. Other insurance may also provide coverage. What can Balloon Kyphoplasty do for me? Balloon Kyphoplasty can restore vertebral body height, significantly reduce back pain and increase mobility, often shortly after the procedure. In addition to pain reduction, patients experience an increased ability to return to such simple, everyday activities as walking, reaching, bending andlifting. Patients also report improved mental health, vitality, social function and emotional health. Is Balloon Kyphoplasty safe? Although the complication rate with Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical procedures, there are risks associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty, including serious complications. Patients should consult with their doctor for a full discussion of the risks. Wherecan I find more information? See www.kyphon.com. Dr. Garfin is a Scientific Advisory Board member for Kyphon Inc., the manufacturer of devices for performing Balloon Kyphoplasty.
