New procedure treats back pain caused by osteoporosis

BY LEE STEPHENS

Osteoporosis, or brittle bones, affects 10 million people in the United States and each year leads to 700,000 painful vertebral compression fractures caused by the collapsing of weakened bones in the spine. Ira F. Braun, M.D., medical director of interventional neuroradiology at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, performs a non-surgical technique that stabilizes the vertebra by filling it with bone cement.

The procedure ­ called percutaneous vertebroplasty ­ helps alleviate pain and improves mobility for patients with fractured vertebrae.

"Since the bones are brittle, the slightest trauma can cause a fracture," Braun said. "One of my patients fractured a vertebra as she picked up her cat."

A fall in September caused a vertebral fracture in Susan Phillips' spine. Weeks of bed rest failed to heal the break.

"I was exhausted physically and mentally ­ because I was constantly trying to fight off the pain," she said. Phillips is now feeling "great" thanks to vertebroplasty, which was performed in November.

During the procedure, the interventional neuroradiologist injects a bone cement into the spine. Using X-ray to "see" and a local anesthetic, the doctor guides a needle through the back into the fractured vertebra. The injected compound hardens and helps stabilize the bone, and prevents further collapsing. The support prevents the painful motion caused by bone rubbing against bone.

"Before vertebroplasty women with spinal fractures had few options, usually a back brace and painkillers," Braun said. "In six to twelve hours after this procedure, most patients feel a significant decrease in pain." Phillips, a mother of two, returned to her active schedule within two days.

The outpatient procedure can be done in one to two hours. The hospital stay is usually one day.

"Although vertebroplasty is relatively new in the United States, it has been performed for more than 10 years in France,"

Braun said. "Vertebroplasty is most effective when the fracture is treated quickly."

Dr. Braun is board-certified in radiology with a certificate of added qualification in neuroradiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Radiology and is also an examiner for the American Board of Radiology.

He received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and completed his residency at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center, also in Bronx. Braun completed a fellowship in diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology at New York University Medical Center in New York City. He is a member of several scientific and professional societies, including American Society of Neuroradiology, American Medical Association and Radiological Society of North America. He is past president of the American Society of Head and Neck Radiology. He has practiced in Miami for 10 years and is a resident of Pinecrest.

Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, located at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals, is an affiliate of Baptist Health Systems of South Florida. The Institute offers comprehensive services to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. Institute physicians have pioneered the use of less invasive techniques and devices to treat circulatory and heart disease, as well as other conditions such as fractured vertebrae, infertility and uterine fibroids.

For more information about percutaneous verbroplasty, talk to your doctor or call Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute at 305-598-5990.