Spire Hull and East Riding Hospital is a centre of excellence for spinal procedures, treating patients with osteoporosis, and vertebral compression fractures. We are one of the few private hospitals outside London to offer vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures.
Once you have a referral from your GP just contact us to make an appointment with with of our consultant Neurosurgeons.
Vertebroplasty
This procedure introduces special bone cement into the spinal vertebrae through a catheter (thin wire). It is suitable for patients who have been diagnosed with severe painful osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures resulting from osteoporosis or spinal tumours. Vertebroplasty takes place under local anaesthetic with x-ray control.
Kyphoplasty
This procedure uses a catheter to introduce two balloon-like devices into the vertebrae under local anaesthetic. The balloons are swiftly inflated until the normal height of the vertebral body is restored, or in severe cases until the balloons reach their maximum volume. The balloons are then deflated and the cavity created is filled with cement under low pressure. The procedure is suitable for patients with vertebral compression fractures. This type of fracture occurs in the elderly, in particular in postmenopausal women, but can also be associated with other factors such as chronic steroid usage, malignancy in the vertebrae or more rarely, haemangioma. Recent studies show that vertebral height is restored in 20% of patients and curvature of the spine is decreased from 22 degrees to 15 degrees.
Both these procedures have approval from NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence), and are recognised by the major insurance groups.
Patients with private medical insurance simply need authorisation from their insurer to have the treatment. For patients without insurance we offer self-funding packages.
For more information on spinal procedures at Spire Hull and East Riding Hospital, please contact the customer services team on 01482 672412 or complete our enquiry form.