New Essex-wide treatment for spinal fractures and back pain
Balloon Kyphoplasty, a minimally-invasive procedure for spinal compression fractures, is performed by Spinal Consultant Mr R Khazim at Essex's Spire Wellesley Hospital which offers both pain relief and the additional advantage of realigning the spinal column and therefore, regaining a substantial amount of height to the once fractured vertebra.
Advantages of Balloon Kyphoplasty
- Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally-invasive technique which is suitable for patients of all ages
- Patients are often admitted as a daycase or a one night stay
- You may experience immediate restoration of height
- Treatment can reduce the risk of further spinal fractures
- Balloon kyphoplasty is performed for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (fractures of spinal vertebrae).
Osteoporotic fractures are common in the elderly and particularly in post-menopausal women, but they can also be associated with other factors such as chronic steroid usage. Other causes of vertebral compression fracture include cancer or trauma.
Most vertebral compression fractures are treated conservatively with analgesics, bedrest and bracing, but a small percentage are left with persistent pain and disability.
Balloon kyphoplasty offers both pain relief, increased mobility and an additional advantage of realigning the spinal column.
Description of procedure
Balloon kyphoplasty can be performed either with general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic. The fractured vertebra is accessed through a small incision in the patient’s back. The balloon is positioned and inflated until the normal height of the vertebra is restored, then it is filled with cement at low pressure.
Click here to watch a video demonstrating the Balloon Kyphoplasty procedure.
Benefit to patients in most cases
- Pain relief
- Stabilisation of spinal column
- Increased mobility
- Return to normal activity in a few days
- Minimal scarring.
Profile of patients
Potential patients are typically those suffering from osteoporosis, cancer or trauma that have not responded to conventional medical management.
For those patients wishing to fund this procedure themselves, a competitive price is available. For further details please contact our Customer Services Advisor on 01702 447 926.
For patients with private medical insurance, you will simply need to obtain a letter of referral to Mr Khazim and gain authorisation from your insurance company to proceed with treatment.