St. Vincent's to pay $2M in Medicare fraud case Sep 30, 2009
The federal government claimed the hospitals charged Medicare each time they performed kyphoplasty, a spinal fractures treatment associated with osteoporosis. In many cases, the procedure can be performed as an out-patient surgery. (Birmingham Business Journal, AL)
Is a Common Medical Procedure Unnecessary? Aug 6, 2009
My 88 year old mother-in-law, had a similar proceedure call Kyphoplasty in 2006 (actually 2 surgeries to repair 3 vertabra) ... I have seen my mother in such severe pain with compression fractures, and then have seen her miraculously healed with kyphoplasty once and vertebroplasty twice ... We tried the pain shots 6 years ago, and after 3 injections over several months and many heavy pain pills, with absolutely no relief, tried the kyphoplasty procedure. (CBS News)
New Treatment Method Reduces Pain In Patients With Vertebral Compression Fractures Aug 5, 2009
Vesselplasty is a new alternative to vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty two conventional VCF treatment methods ... Vesselplasty solves the problem of leakage of cement out of the vertebral body which can happen during both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, said Lucia Flors, MD, lead author of the study. (Science Daily)
ASK DR. H: Over the years, gravity can impact height Jul 30, 2009
The only exception is an acute compression fracture, for which an orthopedic surgeon can perform a procedure called kyphoplasty to restore height and mend the fracture. But gravity can be a good thing, too. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Super glue: It's holding us together these days Jul 7, 2009
"You know the temporary crown you get while the permanent one is being made? That's the same stuff." Bone cement II: At Baptist Hospital, neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Klem uses the same type of bone cement in an operation called kyphoplasty, to repair spinal vertebrae that have deteriorated and collapsed from osteoporosis. The surgeon inserts a pen-sized instrument through a tiny slit in the skin into the damaged vertebra in the lower back. (Montana Standard, MT)
HealthEast settles suit for $2.28M May 22, 2009
The procedure, dubbed kyphoplasty, is performed using a technology made by s spinal division. The device was developed by Kyphon Inc., a company Fridley-based Medtronic acquired. (Twin Cities Business Journal, MN)
Using a Balloon to Repair a Broken Back Feb 27, 2009
Technique called kyphoplasty may benefit those with vertebral fractures, study finds ... WEDNESDAY, Feb. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A minimally-invasive procedure called kyphoplasty reduces disability and back pain for people with acute vertebral fractures, according to researchers who studied 300 patients at 21 sites in eight European countries ... In kyphoplasty, a balloon is inserted to restore the fractured vertebra to its proper shape and height. (MEDLINEplus)
Alphatec Spine Announces Key Activities At 2009 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting Feb 25, 2009
Currently, the two most common procedures used to treat a VCF are kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. A vertebroplasty procedure involves injecting bone cement directly into the VCF under high pressure, with the goal of stabilizing the fracture. (Primezone Releases)
Breast Cancer Patients May Have a New Treatment Option When Cancer Spreads Feb 23, 2009
A surgical procedure (vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty) in which bone cement is injected into the body to stabilize the bone. Subsequent external beam radiation therapy (or EBRT) to control tumor growth. (PR Newswire)
