Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are two of our most remarkable answers to spinal compression fractures. These minimally invasive procedures quickly repair cracks in your vertebra and restore height to your spine, all with the help of specially formulated surgical cement.
In this blog, Dr. Raul Lopez and our team at the West Texas Pain Institute examine surgical cement in more detail and give you insight into what to expect after your procedure.
We inject the same surgical cement whether you’re getting kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. The filling materials include injectable PMMA, composite bone cement, biodegradable bone cement, calcium phosphate cement (CPC), and other ingredients.
Once injected into your vertebrae, each component of the surgical cement plays a unique biochemical role, allowing for optimum shock absorption and fortification.
Surgical cement is designed to last for the long haul, but that doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t deteriorate — nor does it mean your vertebra won’t suffer another compression fracture.
Adhering closely to short- and long-term care instructions is the best way to maximize your results.
The first rule is you’ll need to rest for at least a few days. Everyone recovers at different rates, so don’t be discouraged if it takes you longer than you think it should to get back to normal.
After the first few days, you can gradually resume your normal activities, but you should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for at least six weeks. Our team is always standing by to answer your questions or set up a follow-up appointment if something about your recovery isn’t quite right.
Life beyond your initial recovery may look a bit different. Compression fractures usually stem from osteoporosis, and neither kyphoplasty nor vertebroplasty cure it. You can expect bone loss to continue, even if the surgical cement we used to repair your fracture remains intact.
There’s no way to prevent another spinal compression fracture from happening, and there’s no foolproof way to protect the surgical cement in your bones; however, you can make healthy choices to slow the progression of osteoporosis and support your spine health.
The best place to start is with your diet. Strong bones rely on calcium and vitamin D, so we recommend eating plenty of:
Spending time in the sun can also help your body produce vitamin D. While you should never go without sunscreen, exposing your skin to sunlight for short periods is one of the best natural ways to increase vitamin D levels.
We also recommend avoiding certain foods with high levels of added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.
Some other bone-friendly strategies include:
If you’re struggling with back pain from a spinal compression fracture, it’s time to see if you’re a candidate for either kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. To schedule a consultation with our expert, call or click to make an appointment at our El Paso, Texas, office today.
