• Kyphoplasty is a procedure that injects special cement into the vertebrae to treat compression fractures in the spine. This procedure involves the use of a balloon-like device to create space in the bone. Under local anesthesia, a needle is inserted through the skin and back muscles and into the bone. Then, the balloon inside the needle is inflated to create space in the vertebrae that the cement will fill to help the bone regain its normal shape.
• Sacroplasty is a similar procedure to kyphoplasty where cement is injected into the sacrum to treat a sacral fracture.
• Epidural steroid injections (ESI): Medicines are injected into the epidural space; a fat-filled area between the bone and the protective sac of the spinal nerves to help relieve neck, arm, back, and leg pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves due to spinal stenosis or disc herniation. Pain relief may last for several days or even years. The procedure is performed under x-ray guidance on an outpatient basis.
• Ablation of painful bone lesions using the only FDA approved radiofrequency (RF) technology for palliation of metastatic bone lesions, ablation of painful bone lesions in the spine and pelvis can be life-changing by eliminating or reducing pain. These same techniques can also be used to treat painful benign bone lesions, often found in children (osteoid osteoma). Using CT or live xrays, a metal probe is inserted into the bone and RF energy is applied to heat the bone tumor. This destroys the tumor and results in pain relief.