Tests, Treatments and Therapies at the Alexian Spine Institute  

Kyphoplasty

Some people take good posture for granted, but if you have osteoporosis you understand how this bone-weakening disease can rob you of the ability to sit upright without experiencing pain. If one or more of your vertebrae (spinal) bones are too weak to bear normal pressure, the vertebrae may collapse resulting in what's called a compression fracture.

While many compression fractures don't require surgery, more severe ones often do. If these fractures are diagnosed within six weeks of occurring they may be treated with a special new surgical procedure called kyphoplasty.

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that requires a small incision and can be done on an outpatient basis. Most people experience immediate and lasting pain relief and quickly return to daily activities.

Spinal Fusion

If you experience chronic back pain from simple movements such as bending, turning and twisting, you may be a candidate for spinal fusion surgery. By stabilizing the bones in your spine you may be able to eliminate or significantly reduce your pain. Surgeons at Alexian Spine Institute use a cutting-edge procedure called bone morphogenic protein, which promotes new bone growth and fuses or "welds" the bones of your vertebrae together.

The use of bone morphogenic protein may reduce back pain, require a shorter hospital stay and enable you to recover faster. The surgical specialists as Alexian Spine Institute will help you determine whether using bone morphogenic protein for spinal fusion is the right choice for you.

Vertebroplasty

This procedure is also used to reduce pain. A special type of cement is injected into a fractured vertebra in order to stabilize it. The procedure is typically used for a spine fracture caused by osteoporosis, a disease that causes weakening of the bones. It is a minimally invasive procedure and patients may usually go home the same day as the procedure.

Laminectomy

A laminectomy is a type of back surgery used to treat a herniated disk. A herniated disk is a small, circular cushion between the bones of your spine that has bulged out or ruptured from its proper place in your back. A herniated disk may press on nearby nerves and cause severe pain. This procedure lessens or eliminate pain by removing a small portion of bone and part of the ruptured disc.