Vertebroplasty

[Guest guest]

Maybe this could help some of us with spinal problems?

Barb F.- MI

________________________________________________________

DG DISPATCH - SCVIR: Bone Cement Relieves Pain From Compression

Fractures of

the Spine

By Susman

Special to DG News

SAN DIEGO, CA -- March 28, 2000 -- Eighty percent of patients

with

compression fractures of the spine report nearly immediate relief

of pain

after receiving injections of a bone cement into the injured

spine in an

outpatient procedure.

" Spinal fractures are a huge problem, " said Mathis, MD,

chairman of the

radiology group at -Gale Medical Center, Salem, Va, who

spoke at the

25th annual scientific meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular

and

Interventional Radiology (SCVIR). " There are 500,000 to 700,000

of these

fractures a year in North America. It is more of a problem than

hip

fractures. "

But he said vertebroplasty can change the course of the disease.

" We can get people who are bed-ridden due to the painful nature

of the

fractures back on their feet again and probably lengthen their

lives, " Dr.

Mathis said.

In two studies, researchers were able to show that injecting the

bone cement

under x-ray guidance reduced pain and, in experienced hands,

produced few

serious side effects. Dr. Gregg Zoarski, associate professor of

radiology at

the University of land School of Medicine, Baltimore, said

that 24 of 30

patients reported significant declines in pain within two weeks

of getting

the injections.

" Some people feel better almost immediately, " said Dr. Mathis,

who cited

another study, performed at St. Mercy medical Center, in

Toledo,

Ohio, where 95 percent of 45 patients reported significant

improvement in

pain and mobility. " These two studies are typical of the results

we see, " he

said.

Dr. Mathis said the spinal fractures often occur in older

patients who have

osteoporosis. However, he said, more and more such fractures are

occurring in

younger people who are vulnerable to fractures due to bone loss

resulting

from taking steroids for conditions such as asthma. Current

treatment

involves berets or use of unwieldy, uncomfortable body braces.

" The fractures can occur just by picking up a heavy purse,

pulling on bed

sheets or sitting down heavily, " Dr. Mathis said. " Literally, any

of the

activities of daily living can cause the fractures in vulnerable

patients. "

Typically, doctors wait about a week to see if the fracture pain

will resolve

on its own. If pain persists, the patient is x-rayed and a needle

about the

diameter of a cocktail straw is inserted into the fractured

vertebrae. Bone

cement is used to fill tiny holes and crevasses inside the

vertebra to shore

up the bone. The process takes about an hour and can be performed

as an

outpatient procedure.

[Guest guest]

Maybe this could help some of us with spinal problems?

Barb F.- MI

________________________________________________________

DG DISPATCH - SCVIR: Bone Cement Relieves Pain From Compression

Fractures of

the Spine

By Susman

Special to DG News

SAN DIEGO, CA -- March 28, 2000 -- Eighty percent of patients

with

compression fractures of the spine report nearly immediate relief

of pain

after receiving injections of a bone cement into the injured

spine in an

outpatient procedure.

" Spinal fractures are a huge problem, " said Mathis, MD,

chairman of the

radiology group at -Gale Medical Center, Salem, Va, who

spoke at the

25th annual scientific meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular

and

Interventional Radiology (SCVIR). " There are 500,000 to 700,000

of these

fractures a year in North America. It is more of a problem than

hip

fractures. "

But he said vertebroplasty can change the course of the disease.

" We can get people who are bed-ridden due to the painful nature

of the

fractures back on their feet again and probably lengthen their

lives, " Dr.

Mathis said.

In two studies, researchers were able to show that injecting the

bone cement

under x-ray guidance reduced pain and, in experienced hands,

produced few

serious side effects. Dr. Gregg Zoarski, associate professor of

radiology at

the University of land School of Medicine, Baltimore, said

that 24 of 30

patients reported significant declines in pain within two weeks

of getting

the injections.

" Some people feel better almost immediately, " said Dr. Mathis,

who cited

another study, performed at St. Mercy medical Center, in

Toledo,

Ohio, where 95 percent of 45 patients reported significant

improvement in

pain and mobility. " These two studies are typical of the results

we see, " he

said.

Dr. Mathis said the spinal fractures often occur in older

patients who have

osteoporosis. However, he said, more and more such fractures are

occurring in

younger people who are vulnerable to fractures due to bone loss

resulting

from taking steroids for conditions such as asthma. Current

treatment

involves berets or use of unwieldy, uncomfortable body braces.

" The fractures can occur just by picking up a heavy purse,

pulling on bed

sheets or sitting down heavily, " Dr. Mathis said. " Literally, any

of the

activities of daily living can cause the fractures in vulnerable

patients. "

Typically, doctors wait about a week to see if the fracture pain

will resolve

on its own. If pain persists, the patient is x-rayed and a needle

about the

diameter of a cocktail straw is inserted into the fractured

vertebrae. Bone

cement is used to fill tiny holes and crevasses inside the

vertebra to shore

up the bone. The process takes about an hour and can be performed

as an

outpatient procedure.

[Guest guest]

Vertebroplasty

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/content/interventional/vertebro.htm