| National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention | | | | also showed that Balloon Kyphoplasty restored height |
| Month, yet for the 44 million Americans at risk for | | | | and maintained the shape of the affected vertebra, |
| osteoporosis, many are often unaware that they | | | | results that were maintained for two years after |
| have the disease until they fracture a bone. | | | | treatment. According to the authors, such outcomes |
| Imagine experiencing back pain so severe that daily | | | | may have a positive effect on long-term health and |
| activities such as walking, climbing stairs or grocery | | | | survival. |
| shopping are no longer possible. For Nancy Zacherl | | | | Immediately following the procedure, Zacherl's |
| and many of the 700,000 others suffering from spinal | | | | improvements in pain and mobility were similar to |
| fractures each year, this is a reality. | | | | those found in Dr. Ledlie's study. |
| After suffering a debilitating osteoporosis-related | | | | "Balloon Kyphoplasty gave me back my life," said |
| spinal fracture, the once-active grandmother was no | | | | Zacherl. "The pain was gone and within days of the |
| longer able to enjoy weekend motorcycle rides with | | | | procedure, my husband and I took a long motorcycle |
| her husband, take daily walks or play with her | | | | ride and even went dancing." |
| granddaughter. Instead, Zacherl was confined to bed | | | | With more than 44 million Americans at risk for |
| because of excruciating back pain. Feeling depressed | | | | osteoporosis, a disease that causes bone to become |
| and helpless, Zacherl knew she had to see a doctor. | | | | fragile, spinal fractures are a major health concern. |
| "I thought the pain would go away, but it became | | | | Left untreated, multiple spinal fractures can result in |
| progressively worse, making breathing difficult," said | | | | kyphosis-a serious health condition marked by |
| Zacherl. "I was desperate for help and knew I | | | | forward curvature of the upper back, often |
| needed treatment." | | | | described as a "hunchback." Severe kyphosis can |
| Upon the advice of her doctor, Zacherl visited Jon | | | | compress the abdominal cavity and elevate the risk |
| Ledlie, M.D., a renowned neurosurgeon at Tyler | | | | for complications and death. |
| Neurosurgical Associates in Tyler, Texas. | | | | The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) |
| Like most patients, Zacherl was surprised to learn | | | | estimates that half of American women and |
| that her back pain was the result of a spinal fracture, | | | | one-fourth of American men over the age of 50 will |
| which occurs when one of the bones in the spinal | | | | experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. |
| column (vertebra) weakens and collapses. Zacherl | | | | To better understand your fracture risk, regular bone |
| was excited to learn that a minimally invasive | | | | density screenings are recommended. |
| treatment called Balloon Kyphoplasty could reduce her | | | | Note: Although the complication rate with Balloon |
| back pain as well as restore the height of her | | | | Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as |
| fractured vertebra. | | | | with most surgical procedures, there are risks |
| "Balloon Kyphoplasty has been shown to be an | | | | associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty, including serious |
| effective treatment for repairing spinal fractures and | | | | complications. Consult with your doctor for a full |
| providing immediate and sustained improvements in | | | | discussion of risks. |
| pain and mobility," says Dr. Ledlie. | | | | While there are approximately 700,000 spinal |
| Furthermore, results of a first-ever, two-year study | | | | fractures, also known as vertebral compression |
| conducted by Dr. Ledlie and Dr. Mark Renfro found | | | | fractures (VCFs), occurring in the United States each |
| that after Balloon Kyphoplasty, a majority of patients | | | | year, only one-third are clinically diagnosed and |
| experienced complete pain relief, required significantly | | | | treated, according to the National Osteoporosis |
| fewer pain medications and showed improvement in | | | | Foundation (NOF). More than 220,000 spinal fractures |
| their ability to walk independently and without | | | | worldwide have been treated with Balloon |
| difficulty. The study, published January 2006 in Spine, | | | | Kyphoplasty since 1998. |