Spinal Fractures Specialist
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Dr. S. Samuel Bederman
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon & Back, Spine, & Neck Specialist located in Orange, CA
Spinal fractures can happen due to trauma from an accident or a fall. If you think you’ve suffered a fracture, trust orthopedic spine surgeon S. Samuel Bederman, MD, of RESTORE Orthopedics and Spine Center in Orange, California, for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. Not all cases of spinal fractures require surgery, but if yours does, Dr. Bederman is an expert. Call the office or schedule a consultation online to learn about your treatment options.
Spinal Fractures Q & A
What are the main causes of spinal fractures?
Spinal fractures can result from a:
- Car accident
- Sports injury
- Fall
- Violent injury like a gunshot wound
Spinal fractures can also develop due to bone insufficiency caused by osteoporosis. Other causes of bone insufficiency include bone metastasis — when cancer has spread from another part of the body to the bone — and multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Even minor falls or trauma can cause a spinal fracture in these cases.
What are the types of spinal fractures?
Spinal fractures include compression fractures, which are painful cases often seen in osteoporotic patients following minor trauma. Severe injuries such as burst fractures and fracture-dislocations are other types of spinal fracture caused by accidents or falls. These severe cases can result in spinal instability, spinal cord injury, and serious pain.
What is kyphoplasty?
In the past, the process of treating fractures involved prescribing narcotics and braces. Dr. Bederman offers an innovative surgical technique called kyphoplasty to treat the pain and dysfunction of a spinal fracture.
Kyphoplasty is done using minimally invasive techniques on an outpatient basis, meaning you go home the same day. In some cases, Dr. Bederman will ask you to spend one night in the hospital for observation.
After you’ve been placed under anesthesia, Dr. Bederman uses X-ray guidance to insert a needle through your skin and back muscles into the affected bone. He then inflates a balloon-like implant to help your fractured vertebra regain its normal shape. Dr. Bederman then injects a special cement into your vertebra to stabilize it.
What is recovery like following kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty involves no incisions, just the prick of the needle used to insert the balloon and cement. You could be walking within an hour of the procedure. Expect some soreness at the site of the needle puncture, but this should go away in a few days.
You should feel less pain than prior to the procedure. Dr. Bederman will instruct you on limiting your activities while you recover.
If you’ve experienced an accident or suffer pain that suggests a spinal fracture, call the office of RESTORE Orthopedics and Spine Center or schedule an appointment online to learn about possible treatment options.
