What to Expect Before, During, and After Kyphoplasty

Vertebral compression fractures are a common result of weakening bones. Age, along with medical conditions such as osteoporosis, can cause your bones to lose mass and get brittle over time. The bones in your spine, called vertebrae, are no exception to the dangers of bone loss.

Compression fractures develop when the bones in your spine get weak and break. Small fractures might not cause pain at first, but they can lead to increased spinal deterioration, restricted mobility, and significant pain. 

Severe vertebral compression fractures can make standing or sitting for long periods of time painful. They can also make moving and walking painful. If left untreated long enough, compression fractures can cause permanent spinal deformity and nerve damage.

At the Pain Management Centers of New England, with offices in Newburyport and Danvers, MA, our team of experts regularly performs kyphoplasty procedures and other treatments to lessen pain and restore spinal function. 

Here’s what happens before, during, and after kyphoplasty. 

What happens before kyphoplasty?

First, your provider examines your spine to determine the cause of your pain, assess your range of motion, and discuss your symptoms. 

Vertebral compression fractures can have similar symptoms to other back conditions, so we will likely order X-rays or an MRI to help confirm your diagnosis. In some cases, a bone density test and blood work are performed. 

We also evaluate your spine to locate the fracture and assess its severity. If you have a serious, painful compression fracture that has developed in the last few months, he may recommend kyphoplasty. 

What happens during kyphoplasty?

You’ll lie on your stomach during the procedure, and we’ll administer local or general anesthesia so you won’t feel any pain.

Once the anesthesia takes effect, your provider makes a small incision along your spine to reach your fractured vertebrae. With live X-ray imaging to guide him, he’ll use a needle to inject a small balloon into the vertebrae and carefully inflate it to restore the damaged vertebrae to their original height. 

Adding height with a balloon will increase space in your spinal canal and help prevent spinal deformity. Then we fill the space with special bone cement to stabilize your spine. The cement will harden quickly. If you’re getting only one vertebra treated, the procedure should take less than one hour.

What happens after kyphoplasty?

Immediately after kyphoplasty, you’ll be moved to a recovery room to let the anesthesia wear off. Kyphoplasties are performed in an outpatient setting, so you’ll go home the same day.

It’s not unusual to feel some soreness in your back where your 

 Spine was accessed, but this should fade in a few days. Many patients notice significantly less back pain immediately after the procedure than before surgery.

Be sure to follow your recovery recommendations, including any follow-up appointments. You should also avoid strenuous activity to allow your spine time to heal.

If you’re suffering from back pain, it’s time to do something about it. Contact our office in Newburyport and Danvers, MA, to book a consultation today.