BALLOON KYPHOPLASTY PROCEDURE PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY OF LIFE TO PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM SPINAL FRACTURES DUE TO OSTOEPOROSIS

The ACMH Hospital Pain Management Center is offering Balloon Kyphoplasty to correct spinal deformity due to osteoporotic fractures. Dr. Randall Barrett, Medical Director of the Pain Management Center, performs this minimally invasive procedure with excellent results of reduced back pain and improvement in the patient’s ability to return to daily activities.

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones of the spine (vertebrae) to weaken and often collapse, resulting in spinal fractures called compression fractures. Statistics show that one in two women and one in four men age 50 and older in the US will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. Traditional treatment for spinal compression fractures includes bed rest, medication and back bracing. While these therapies may help to decrease a patient’s pain over time, they do not treat the boney deformity caused by the osteoporotic fractures.

Balloon Kyphoplasty is designed to repair vertebral compression fractures and restore the vertebra(e) to the correct position, reducing back pain, decreasing the number of days in bed, significantly improving mobility and increasing the overall quality of life. The procedure generally takes less than one hour per fracture and may be performed under either local or general anesthesia. In most cases, Medicare provides coverage for Balloon Kyphoplasty. Some other insurance companies also provide coverage.

Dr. Barrett is a local born resident and pain management specialist who has been working at ACMH Hospital since 1997. Dr. Barrett underwent special training to perform Balloon Kyphoplasty and has performed the procedure with remarkable results. “It is truly amazing to see these patients who come into the center with crippling pain and are able to walk out of the hospital nearly pain free.” -- Dr. Randall Barrett

Although the complication rate with Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with any surgical procedure, there are risks that interested patients should discuss with their physician. For a consultation concerning treatment options for a spinal fracture, please contact the ACMH Pain Management Center at 724-543-8622.

For more information about osteoporosis and spinal fractures, please visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation web site at www.nof.org. Dr. Barrett will be discussing Kyphoplasty on Family Life TV live on Tuesday May 22 at 8 pm (for additional broadcast information please visit www.familylifetv.com).