Vertebroplasty in Paramus, West New York, and Union, New Jersey
Vertebroplasty is a safe, effective solution for osteoporosis-related spinal fractures. Less invasive than surgery, this outpatient treatment can provide long-term relief and allow patients to get back to doing the things they enjoy most. With locations in Paramus, West New York, and Union, New Jersey, Bergen Pain Management specializes in vertebroplasty and other treatments, and Dr. Ragukonis is here to help you find relief from your symptoms.
What Is Vertebroplasty?
For patients suffering from a compression fracture due to osteoporosis, vertebroplasty is a safe and effective treatment option. It’s proven to provide long-term relief but doesn’t require a long hospital stay. Instead, patients can go home the same day and will be back on their feet, with very minimal recovery time.
Patients are brought into the procedure room and anesthesia is induced, for both the patients’ safety and comfort. The area is numbed with local anesthesia. A needle is guided toward the affected vertebra, utilizing fluoroscopy to ensure a successful placement. Then, the needle injects specially formulated bone cement into the fractured bone. The cement fills the cracks and solidifies quickly, becoming a kind of internal cast that protects and fortifies the bone. The needle is then safely removed.
Afterward, there is a short observation period to make sure the cement hardens without complications. Once the doctor is confident that vertebroplasty has been a success, you’ll be free to return home.
How It Helps
Osteoporosis occurs when a patient’s bones break down faster than they can be repaired. The skeleton’s bones become porous, brittle, and easy to break – especially in the spine. When weakened vertebrae can’t support the body’s weight and start to collapse, this is called a compression fracture. As a fracture becomes progressively worse, it comes with some negative side effects, including:
- Acute back pain
- Loss of height
- Spinal deformities
- Muscle loss
- Crowded internal organs
By filling the cracked and porous bones with specially formulated cement during vertebroplasty, bones can strengthen, and fractures can be prevented from getting worse. More importantly, treatment stops the painful grinding of fractured bones, allowing patients to live a full and active lifestyle free from discomfort.
