Is Kyphoplasty Safe for Seniors?

Kyphoplasty is one of our best answers to debilitating back pain — but is it safe for everyone? Our older patients shouldn’t fear kyphoplasty, but they shouldn’t hold back their questions, either. Here, we answer them all.

Kyphoplasty is one of modern pain medicine’s most effective treatments, and you’ve likely heard as much from those who’ve had it.

But is it right for you at this age?

Fortunately, kyphoplasty is a safe option for virtually everyone, regardless of how old you are.

In this blog, Drs. John Yoo and Benjamin Wilson at Vascular & Interventional Specialists in Fort Worth, Texas, walk senior patients through the basics of kyphoplasty so you can decide if it’s the best treatment for you.

Kyphoplasty is minimally invasive

Our older patients flock to kyphoplasty because it offers pain relief without aggressive surgery. During kyphoplasty, your doctor creates a tiny incision (less than a half-inch long) over your collapsed vertebra. Then, we insert a deflated balloon into the vertebra.

Once the balloon gets inserted, we slowly inflate it to create space in the vertebra and inject medical-grade bone cement to fill in the fracture and fortify your bone.

Unlike many traditional surgeries, there’s no disruption to the surrounding areas of your spine, no need for anesthesia, and little risk of side effects.

Kyphoplasty is used to treat fractured vertebrae

Your spine consists of what looks like bony building blocks called vertebrae. They stack on each other to form your flexible but sturdy backbone.

Sometimes vertebrae compress or collapse completely, causing spinal compression fractures.

Spinal compression fractures don’t discriminate based on age, but you’re much more at risk the older you get.

Menopausal women are especially vulnerable because the dip in estrogen levels triggers rampant osteoporosis, a condition that weakens your bones. For this reason, many of our kyphoplasty patients are older.

Considering all the facts

Kyphoplasty is minimally invasive and safe, but any procedure on delicate areas of your body shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Only medical professionals with extensive training and experience (like those on our team) should perform kyphoplasty. The risk of infection, nerve damage, and adverse reactions rises without proper technique.

In addition to having the experience necessary to perform kyphoplasty safely, our team thoroughly reviews your health status to ensure you’re an ideal candidate.

You’re eligible for kyphoplasty if you:

Have severe back pain due to spinal compression fractures
Have spinal compression fractures due to osteoporosis or other bone conditions
Have lost height or mobility
Have a hunched-forward posture (kyphosis)

We can recommend kyphoplasty if your spinal compression fractures haven’t responded to other treatments, you’re in good health, and can physically withstand a minor procedure.

We discuss all the potential risks before your procedure so you can make an informed decision about your health.

If you're experiencing spinal compression fracture pain but worried that you’re too old to deal with it properly, we want to talk with you. Call our friendly staff at 817-321-0951 or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation with one of our experts and get more answers to your questions.