Musculoskeletal Interventions

Musculoskeletal intervention treatment aims to provide temporary or long-term relief to pain or inflammation within the structures of the body. Pain often develops in the back or joints as a result of a degenerated or herniated disc, inflamed or pinched nerve, or compressed fracture. Different conditions may require different treatment, but each one of these procedures aims to provide fast, effect treatment through minimally invasive techniques.

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures used to treat vertebral compression fractures (VCF), which are fractures of the vertebra. These fractures commonly occur as a result of osteoporosis, spinal tumors or injury, and can cause severe pain and limited mobility.

These fractures can be treated with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, two procedures that are virtually the same aside from one small difference. Both involve inserting a hollow needle through the skin and into the fractured vertebra. In vertebroplasty, a bone cement mixture is injected into the fractured bone through the needle. In kyphoplasty, a balloon is first inserted into the fractured bone to restore it to its original height and shape before filling the damaged bone with the cement mixture.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are performed under local anesthesia and may require a short recovery time before patients can return to work and other regular activities. These procedures are considered safe for most patients and include only minimal risks.

Arthrography

Arthrography is an x-ray examination of a joint using fluoroscopy and a contrast material to produce highly detailed images of the area. Fluoroscopy allows your doctor to see the internal organs in motion and detect abnormalities within the shoulder, wrist, hip, knee or ankle. This procedure can help determine if surgery or any other type of treatment is needed, and can effectively detect tears or lesions in the structures and ligaments of the joints.

During the arthrography procedure, patients are positioned on the exam table so that the targeted joint can be easily examined. The joint to be examined is injected with a local anesthetic before a needle with an aspiration syringe is injected into the joint space. A contrast material may be injected as well and the joint is moved to disperse the material before x-ray images are taken. This procedure usually takes about 30 minutes to perform.

After this procedure, patients may experience numbness, swelling and discomfort for up to 48 hours. Patients should avoid exercise and other physical activities until symptoms subside.

Injections for Pain

Many patients with musculoskeletal conditions suffer from chronic pain as a result of their condition. While corrective treatment may not be an option for some patients, there are several treatments available that focus on relieving pain through minimally invasive procedures. These procedures involve injecting an anti-inflammatory or anesthetic solution into the affected area to relieve pain and restore function.

Epidural injections are steroids, anesthetics and anti-inflammatory medications that are injected into the epidural space of the spine to relieve pain caused by a herniated disk, spinal stenosis or other injuries or diseases of the spinal cord. The type of injury will determine the type of injection used on each individual patient. Once injected into the epidural space, the medication will move around and coat the nerve roots to soothe pain in the area. Pain relief may last from several days to several months, but additional injections will eventually be needed in order to maintain relief.

Nerve blocks are anesthetic or anti-inflammatory injections delivered to a certain nerve to relieve pain or decrease inflammation. These injections may require imaging guidance to place the injection in the right location to help relieve pain for the patient. Patients with chronic or acute pain in the neck, buttocks, arms and legs often find that their pain in fact stems from the spine, and can benefit from a nerve block that is injected directly into a damaged nerve. Once injected into the nerve, this medication will shut down the pain receptors in the nerve and temporarily relieve the pain.

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