This type of spine surgery treats a problem called "compression fracture." That's when the body of a vertebra (one of the bones of the spinal column) cracks and collapses. Vertebral augmentation makes the bone stronger. It may restore lost height and relieve pain.
To begin, we give you medicine to make you feel relaxed and numb. You may be put to sleep. We perform the entire procedure through a needle stick in the skin of your back. With the help of a video x-ray device called a "fluoroscope," we guide a tube through this opening and down to your spine. Then, we create a path into the damaged vertebra.
Now it's time to fix the damage. Our goal is to stabilize the bone from within. For some patients, we simply inject cement directly into the bone. But if your vertebra has lost a lot of height, we want to restore that height. We can do this in a few ways. A common method is to inflate a balloon inside the vertebra. This lifts the bone, creating space inside it. Then, we inject the cement into this space. The specific method we use depends on your needs.
When it's done, we bandage your skin. You're watched closely for a period of time. Follow your care tips for a safe recovery.