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Kyphoplasty for Dad
My almost 95 year old father suffered a compression fracture of L5 from a fall. He is scheduled for kyphoplasty in a couple of days (and is currently in hospital, where it will be performed).
My question is concerning post procedure (and I haven’t had the chance to ask this at the hospital yet): He has severe neuropathy in both feet (drop foot), and very weak leg muscles. He compensates with arm strength in pulling himself up from sitting (with more and more difficulty and taking many tries), and leans very heavily on his walker and shoves it along the ground. His turns are flinging the walker to the side—often twisting his torso and putting him off balance. He will not listen to any of the PTs or OTs about safer, proper movements. Am I correct in thinking his usual compensatory movements will not be safe when healing from this procedure (and I know some aren’t safe anytime)?
I have asked that he go to rehab after the hospital and am hoping they can safely help with some of this. Any insights would be welcome.
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The healing from my then-80 year-old hubby's first kyphoplasty hardly took any time at all. In fact, he was driving after a couple days, and we went on vacation a few days later. Similar with second kyphoplasty the following year.
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3 Reactionsbabbsjoy, the cement hardens within 15 minutes. So he'll be sort of safe when he leaves the hospital. But it can take a month to integrated into the surrounding bone. If his twist to turn is small, incremental to complete the turn, he should be fine. If he makes the complete turn in one twist, there might be some destabilization.
What level is the kyphoplasty. I'm wondering if there is a brace he could wear to limit the movement. Just try getting him to wear one, ha. Cheers to your Dad.
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3 ReactionsHave anyone lost height due to kyphoplasy. I have had three procedures done and lost 4 inches in my height and now have abdomen and back pain due to crowding of my stomach..i guess there is no treatment ...
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2 Reactionsbettersleep68, kyphoplasty restores some of the height lost in vertebral compression fractures. But vertebral never completely recovers their original height. There is something called Spine Jack https://www.youtube.com/watch It can be done after kyphoplasty, but is usually done if kyphoplasty fails. I don't know anyone who has had this done. Approved in 2017,
I had kyphoplasty on my T7 last August and it hasn't stopped me from doing anything I haven't done before. I am 71 years old and have fractured T8 and T9, T5 as well so I have developed arthritis and pain in the T7-T8 area. It starts hurting as soon as I do anything like standing too long, housework, hardworking, walking too much. So life has changed.😒 I have also lost 1"or more of height. I need an update on my new height. 😉😁
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