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Eight out of ten people will experience back pain during their lives. For
some the pain will be so severe that surgery will be necessary to provide relief.
 At one time, if you had an operation on your spine, you likely had to wear
a collar or body brace for one to three months following surgery. Thanks to
new techniques, such external hardware is becoming a thing of the past.
And its been a change for the better, according to
orthopedic surgeons at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
 Getting rid of the braces has not only improved comfort but has actually improved
the quality of care with fewer wound problems and increased patient mobility.
Several factors allow surgeons to avoid these external devices, which had been
used to protect the spine and promote healing. Advanced, rigid internal fixation
has made most braces unnecessary.
 Surgeons borrow some of the patients bone marrow from the pelvis and
mix it with synthetic bone. The combination has been successful in creating
a spinal fusion.
Another development which has impacted cervical disc surgery has been the
introduction of internal hardware made of titanium. There is no
collar, which means that there is much less postoperative discomfort, and
recovery is much quicker.
 Another recent advance in spinal surgery has been the introduction of kyphoplasty
for the treatment of osteoporosis-related compression fractures of the vertebrae.
In this procedure a balloon is inserted into the vertebral body (Figure A)
and then inflated to prop up the spine (Figure B). After the balloon is withdrawn
(Figure C), cement is injected into the space previously occupied by the balloon,
which rigidly fixes the fracture in the improved position
 The
procedure fixes the deformity in the new position and generally takes away
the pain. With kyphoplasty, many elderly people with compression fractures
experience pain relief and an improved quality of life.
Click here for more information about kyphoplasty
For a referral to a top-notch spine surgeon, call HealthConnect at 1-877 ST
FRANCIS (1-877-783-7262).
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