Dr. Steve Stevens, Interventional Radiologist and Chair of the Department of Radiology at University Health Care, comes to Studio 5.
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Statistics
• Osteoporosis affects 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of the population over age 50, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
• Approximately 700,000 compression fractures of the spine related to osteoporosis and other conditions occur each year. Younger people can also experience these fractures if their bones have become fragile because of long-term use of steroids or other drugs to treat a variety of diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.
• The compression fractures can often lead to chronic pain and decreased function and mobility, loss of employment, insomnia, and depression.
• Conventional treatments such as bed rest, physical therapy, and drugs are often ineffective. Surgery is rarely used in these cases because of the technical difficulties of positioning hardware in the fragile bone.
What is Vertebroplasty?
• Vertebroplasty is a minimally-invasive treatment for compression fractures in the spine.
Who performs Vertebroplasty?
• The procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist—a board-certified physician who is residency trained in radiology, with additional fellowship training in interventional radiology.
The Procedure
• In vertebroplasty, an interventional radiologist injects bone cement, under fluoroscopic or CT guidance, into the vertebral body to stabilize it and relieve pain.
• The cement hardens quickly, usually within 15 minutes.
• Vertebroplasty is an outpatient procedure that typically takes 1 to 2 hours. The patient is on bed rest for 1 to 2 hours following. Overnight hospitalization may be required for some patients.
• The cement makes the vertebrae stronger and can prevent further collapse. In most cases, vertebroplasty does not restore the compressed vertebrae to normal height.
Who is a candidate for Vertebroplasty?
• People who have suffered recent compression fractures with moderate to severe back pain are the best candidates for the procedure.
• For more information about the procedure or to schedule an appointment, call University Health Care’s Interventional Radiology Department, (801) 581-8170.
• Patients will need to have X-rays, confirmed diagnosis of compression fracture, and a consultation with an interventional radiologist before the procedure can be scheduled.
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For more information about the procedure or to schedule an appointment, call University Health Care’s Interventional Radiology Department at (801) 581-8170.
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