Understanding Vertebral Compression Fractures & Kyphoplasty
Recovering from a vertebral compression fracture surgery like kyphoplasty can feel daunting, but understanding the procedure and the steps to recovery can make all the difference.
This article will walk you through the kyphoplasty procedure and provide essential tips for recovery, including exercises and physical therapy, to help you heal effectively and get back to your daily activities.
What is a Vertebral Compression Fracture?
First, what is a vertebral compression fracture?
Vertebral compression fractures (also called vertical compression fractures) happen when all or part of the spine bone collapses.
They’re commonly caused by:
- Osteoporosis, which is the thinning of the bone
- Certain cancers that weaken the bones
- Direct trauma to the spine, such as what might happen in a car accident.
Such fractures can cause severe back pain and significantly impact one’s quality of life, potentially leading to complications such as height loss, breathing difficulties, and limited mobility.
If you’ve been dealing with severe spinal pain for more than two months, your doctor might suggest kyphoplasty.
What Is Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to treat vertebral compression fractures. It aims to eliminate the pain, stabilize the bone, and preserve the vertebrae’s height.
For the best results, kyphoplasty should be done within eight weeks of the initial fracture.
Kyphoplasty Procedure: What to Expect
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect during a kyphoplasty procedure:
1) Preparation
- Before the procedure, you’ll undergo a thorough evaluation to determine your suitability. This may include physical exams, imaging tests, and discussions about your medical history and current medications. You’ll also receive instructions about fasting and medication adjustments before surgery.
- During the procedure, you lie face down on the table, receive either a local or general anesthetic, and the location on your back is cleaned.
2) Insertion and Inflation
- Through a small incision in your back, the surgeon inserts a narrow tube into the fractured spinal bone, using real-time x-ray technology.
- A special balloon is threaded through the tube into the affected vertebra and is gently inflated to elevate the fracture, restoring the bones to their normal position by restoring their height.
3) Cement Injection
- After the balloon is removed, the surgeon injects a cement-like material called polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) into the vertebra. This pasty material hardens quickly, stabilizing the bone to prevent it from collapsing.
- The procedure is repeated as necessary for other vertebrae with compression fractures.
- The entire procedure usually takes about an hour per vertebra and can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Benefits of Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty offers several benefits, including significant pain reduction and improved mobility, allowing patients to resume daily activities with less discomfort.
Additionally, kyphoplasty can restore vertebral height and spinal alignment, helping to prevent future fractures and complications.
Kyphoplasty Recovery Time
Recovering from a kyphoplasty procedure requires patience and following your doctor’s instructions. While recovery time varies, it typically takes a few weeks to resume normal activities.
During the initial recovery period, it’s important to rest and give your body time to heal.Your doctor may recommend avoiding strenuous activities, lifting heavy objects, or bending at the waist for a certain period.
Following these guidelines is crucial to ensure proper healing and minimize the risk of complications.
Kyphoplasty Recovery Exercises
As recovery progresses, your doctor may suggest specific exercises to strengthen your back and improve flexibility. These exercises support the healing process and prevent future fractures.
Examples include:
- Gentle stretching
- Core strengthening exercises
- Low-impact aerobic activities like walking or swimming
Physical Therapy After Kyphoplasty
Physical therapy is a crucial component of the recovery process following kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures. It helps patients regain strength, flexibility, and functionality, ensuring a smoother and more effective recovery.
Here’s a deeper look into how physical therapy supports your healing journey:
Postural Alignment
- Restoring Spinal Alignment: Vertebral compression fractures can lead to a forward stooped posture, known as kyphosis. Physical therapy focuses on exercises and techniques to correct this posture and restore proper spinal alignment.
- Improving Posture: Therapists guide patients through specific exercises to reduce the curvature of the spine, helping improve overall posture and alleviate discomfort caused by misalignment.
Pain Alleviation
- Addressing Muscle Imbalances: Physical therapy targets muscle imbalances that may arise due to inactivity or compensatory movements following the surgery. By addressing these imbalances, therapy helps reduce pain and prevent further issues.
- Reducing Inflammation: Therapists use various techniques, including manual therapy and modalities like heat or cold packs, to manage inflammation and promote healing in the affected areas.
- Promoting Healing: Through targeted exercises and stretches, physical therapy enhances blood flow and tissue repair, contributing to overall pain reduction and faster recovery.
Strength and Flexibility
- Strengthening Core and Back Muscles: Physical therapists design personalized exercise programs to strengthen the core and back muscles. This support is essential for stabilizing the spine and improving overall functional strength.
- Enhancing Flexibility: Post-surgery, muscles and joints may become stiff. Physical therapy includes stretching exercises to improve flexibility and range of motion, facilitating easier movement and reducing stiffness.
- Improving Range of Motion: Therapists work on exercises that enhance the range of motion in the spine and surrounding muscles, helping you regain full functional movement.
Enhanced Function and Quality of Life
- Empowering Daily Activities: By improving strength, flexibility, and posture, physical therapy helps you perform daily activities with greater ease and confidence. This empowerment is crucial for returning to a normal lifestyle.
- Education on Body Mechanics: Therapists provide guidance on proper body mechanics and movement patterns to prevent future injuries. This education helps in adopting safe practices during everyday activities.
- Boosting Overall Function: A well-designed physical therapy program aims to enhance overall functional abilities, allowing you to live a more active and pain-free life.
Tailored Therapy Programs
- Individualized Plans: Each patient’s needs are unique, and physical therapists develop customized treatment plans based on your specific condition, surgery outcome, and recovery goals.
- Ongoing Adjustments: As you progress, your therapy program may be adjusted to accommodate improvements or address new challenges. Regular evaluations ensure that the therapy remains effective and relevant to your recovery.
Physical Therapy Timeline
- Immediate Post-Surgery: Physical therapy typically begins in the hospital within 48 to 72 hours after surgery. Initial sessions focus on gentle movements and basic exercises to promote early healing.
- Post-Discharge Program: After discharge, a more comprehensive therapy program is coordinated with your physician. This program will continue to build on the progress made during hospital therapy and support ongoing recovery efforts.
At The Jackson Clinics, our experienced team of physical therapists is dedicated to providing personalized care and effective treatment options.
By integrating physical therapy into your recovery plan, you’re taking a proactive step towards a successful and efficient healing process.
Did you know you have Direct Access* to Physical Therapy? No referral, no problem!
Check out our 18 locations and let us know if you are about to undergo spine surgery. Your physical therapist will work with your surgeon to design and schedule an appropriate program of rehabilitation that supports your journey to recovery.