Webcast: Watch an Innovative Spine Procedure

Join us to watch a spine procedure - on the web. Look on as physicians perform a minimally invasive procedure called "kyphoplasty." It treats spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis (a disease that thins and weakens bones). The webcast was broadcast live from St. Joseph's Hospital on April 19, 2007. It is presented in collaboration with Kyphon.

How to watch

To view the webcast, go to:
www.or-live.com/HealthEast/1749

About the procedure

Kyphoplasty is used to relieve pain and stabilize the spine following fractures caused by osteoporosis. It is a minimally invasive procedure (it doesn't require large incisions).

Kyphoplasty is a two-step process. First, the doctor makes a small incision in the back and places a narrow tube through it. Using x-ray images, the doctor inserts a special balloon through the tube and into the vertebrae. As the balloon inflates, it helps restore the height and shape of the spine. The balloon is then removed.

Image from Kyphon.com

In the second step of the process, the doctor uses specially designed instruments to fill in the cavity with a cement-like material. The paste hardens quickly and stabilizes the bone.

The procedure is done under anesthesia, and in some cases it is performed on an outpatient basis.

Click here to visit the OR-Live web site and learn more.

Patient benefits

Kyphoplasty has been shown to restore body height and correct spinal deformity, with low complication rates.

Studies also report significant improvements in quality of life:

Greatly reduced back pain
Decreased number of days per month that a patient remains in bed (most patients had a 100% reduction in days in bed, one month after surgery)
Improved mobility
Improved ability to perform daily activities, such as walking, hobbies and work
Reduction in number of days where pain interfered with daily activities

Candidates for the procedure

This cutting-edge treatment is ideal for certain patients with osteoporosis who are experiencing painful symptoms from recent compression fractures. Kyphoplasty should be done within eight weeks of a fracture for the best results in restoring height. Talk to your doctor to learn more.

About the specialists

The webcast involved physicians from HealthEast Spine Care and HealthEast Osteoporosis Care.

Mark Myers, MD, performed the kyphoplasty.

Dr. Mark Myers, an interventional neuroradiologist, received his bachelor's degree from Oxford University in England. He went on to earn his medical degree at the University of Minnesota. He completed a residency in diagnostic radiology at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, MO and a fellowship in neuroradiology at the University of Minnesota, Department of Radiology.

Joining Dr. Myers with commentary were Michael Madison, MD,
and Christine Simonelli, MD.

Dr. Michael Madison is an interventional neuroradiologist and a medical director of the National Brain Anuerysm Center (formerly HealthEast Neurovascular Institute).

Dr. Madison is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of South Dakota, with a medical degree from the University of Minnesota. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Minnesota, where he also served a fellowship in interventional neuroradiology.

Dr. Christine Simonelli, an international osteoporosis expert, is an internal medicine physician and medical director of HealthEast Osteoporosis Care.

Dr. Simonelli is board certified in internal medicine and is a certified clinical densitometrist. She is a 1977 graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. In 1980 she finished her internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota Affiliated hospitals.