Vertebroplasty of the spine: the essence and features of the procedure, indications for implementation and the effectiveness of the operation
Some diseases of the spine require surgical treatment, which can be carried out using a variety of methods.
One of the most effective surgical interventions is an operation called vertebroplasty of the spine.
According to statistics, vertebroplasty of the spine is improving every year, and today the effectiveness of such a procedure is more than 80%, which is a very good indicator.
What is the essence of the operation
Vertebroplasty of the spine is a type of operation, the main task of which is to strengthen the bone structures of the vertebrae. This intervention is practiced using a special substance called bone cement.
This procedure can be prescribed for a variety of spinal lesions, from compression fractures to chronic degenerative diseases.
The main indications for this surgical intervention are:
- Oncological pathology of the spine.
- Severe pain in the development of osteoporosis.
- Vertebral hemangiomas that can occur in varying degrees of neglect.
- Already transferred compression fracture or increased risk of this condition.
- Pain syndrome in osteonecrosis of the vertebrae.
When not using the technique
Vertebroplasty of the spine is not practiced for healthy people who have suffered normal spinal injury or have had an accident.
Also, such surgery can not be performed in the presence of implants in the spine.
Operation efficiency
According to recent studies, it was found that after performing this operation, improvements in the condition occurred in 85% of patients.
It is worth noting that the effect of this procedure will largely depend on the initial neglect of the person’s condition, the cause of pain in his spine, as well as the success of the operation.
Pros and cons of operation
The advantages of the operation to strengthen the vertebrae are:
- High efficiency of this procedure. It should be noted that bone cement is introduced directly into the affected area with the help of special equipment.
- The procedure will not cause severe pain due to low trauma (the operation does not require cuts).
- The operation is performed using safe local anesthesia, which is not harmful to health.
- After the procedure, after a few hours the patient can move normally.
- Low risk of complications due to modern equipment. Also, the probability of infection or blood loss is minimal.
The disadvantages of this operation are the high cost, as well as the risk of no positive effect.
Puncture vertebroplasty: method of operation, risks of complications, recovery and prices
Puncture vertebroplasty begins with high-quality anesthesia, which is performed with the introduction of lidocaine.
After that, the doctor prepares the cement mixture for its further entry into the vertebrae. This is done using a special syringe with a high level of pressure. It is important to note that the amount of firming substance can be different for all the affected vertebrae. It already depends on the degree of damage.
Moreover, sometimes before the procedure, the doctor takes a spinal cord for further investigation. Upon completion of the procedure, a protective bandage is applied to the patient’s back.
Rehabilitation
Puncture vertebroplasty practically does not require a long-term rehabilitation of a person, because already a few hours after the procedure, the patient can move normally. Despite this, doctors advise patients after this endoscopic manipulation to abandon active physical activity, including weight lifting, active sports training, squats, etc.
It is also not recommended to be in a sitting position for a long time in order not to overload the spine.
At the same time, swimming lessons and long walks in the fresh air will be beneficial for the patient.
Possible complications
Complications after this operation are extremely rare. They are observed only in 2% of all patients.
Most often, undesirable side effects develop as a result of the patient's allergy to injected anesthetic drugs (Lidocaine, etc.). Infectious complications are less common. They occur due to infection in the wound. The effects of the operation are treated with a course of antibiotics.
Sometimes after surgery for a long time, a person does not have back pain. This is a condition in which the patient is advised to immediately consult a doctor.
A very rare complication is the leakage of a cement substance, which in turn provokes squeezing of nerves. Eliminate this condition is possible only with the help of secondary surgery.
It is important to note that the risk of complications increases significantly with the patient not following the advice of a doctor for rehabilitation.
Reviews
To better understand how safe and effective this procedure is to strengthen the spine, we give the following reviews of patients who have already undergone such surgery:
- Anna, 35 years old: “Due to osteoporosis, two vertebrae broke right away. The surgeon advised vertebroplasty, and I agreed, although I was afraid of a negative result. Fortunately, after this procedure, my condition improved - frequent pains passed, and overall mobility returned to normal. I do not regret that I had such an operation. ”
- Anatoly, 57 years old: “I once had vertebroplasty of the spine, and that was enough for me to feel better. The only thing I didn’t like was the side effects of anesthesia that tormented me in the first hours after the procedure. ”
- Svetlana, 42 years old: “I suffer from spinal hemangioma, and my pain is getting worse all the time. After doing vertebroplasty, I feel better. The procedure itself was not too painful for itself. I recovered quickly after it. ”
Price
The cost of puncture vertebroplasty largely depends on the specific clinic where the procedure will take place, the qualifications of the surgeon, the individual neglect of the patient’s condition and the cause of his illness.
On average, the price for such transcutaneous cement plastic is 80,000 rubles. In some clinics, the cost of such a minimally invasive procedure may be even higher.
