Sacral Augmentation
Sacral Augmentation
Fix fractures that are not healing with time.
What is a sacral augmentation procedure?
Sacral augmentation is a treatment for sacral bone fractures, which are small breaks in the triangle shaped bone near the bottom of your spine where it joins the pelvis.
How does the procedure work?
During the sacral augmentation procedure, you’ll lie on your stomach. The physician will insert a hollow needle, called a trocar, through your skin and into the sacrum. A type of x-ray, called fluoroscopy, guides the trocar into the proper position.
Once the trocar is in place, cement is inserted into the sacrum through the trocar.
What are the causes of sacral fractures?
Thinning of bones, or osteoporosis, is the main cause of vertebral compression fractures. Pathologic fractures related to tumors growing in the vertebral body may also cause sacral fractures.
What are the symptoms of a sacral fracture?
Sacral fractures typically cause pain in your low back and pelvis. Pain can be severe when sitting, lying flat or with movement.
How are sacral fractures diagnosed?
Sacral fractures are seen on regular x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans. An MRI scan is always performed before proceeding with kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty, to ensure precision and accuracy.
Who is a candidate for a sacral augmentation procedure?
Sacral augmentation procedures are usually reserved for people with painful progressive (increasing) back pain, who are not responding to conservative management. Candidates for these procedures often have a reduced ability to move and function because of the fractures.
To be a candidate for sacral augmentation, your pain must be related to the fracture, and must not be due to other problems, such as disc herniation, arthritis, or stenosis (narrowing). Imaging tests — such as spinal x-rays, bone scans and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans — might be ordered to confirm the presence of a vertebral fracture.
Is sacral augmentation an inpatient or outpatient procedure?
The procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure in our state-of-the-art facility, not inside a hospital. You’ll be sent home the same day.
What type of anesthesia is used during a sacral augmentation procedure?
Sacral augmentations are considered minimally invasive procedures that are most often performed using mild sedation and local anesthesia.
What are the benefits of sacral augmentation?
Sacral augmentation has been proven to be a safe and effective procedure for reducing pain in patients with sacral insufficiency fractures.1 After the bone cement is inserted into the sacrum, the majority of significant pain relief lasts at least 12 months.2
What are the risks of sacral augmentation?
Sacral augmentation is very low risk. There’s a slight chance you could get an infection, bleeding, increased back pain, numbness, or tingling. If you have osteoporosis, there is a risk of developing additional fractures to other vertebral bodies in your spine.
Is sacral augmentation painful?
You may feel sore in the area where the trocar was inserted. However, this should resolve within a couple of days. Applying ice to the area can help relieve any soreness.
How effective is sacral augmentation?
Sacral augmentation usually provides pain relief and improved mobility (movement) within 48 hours of the procedure. In some cases, however, you may feel pain relief immediately.
When can I get back to my normal activity?
Most patients are satisfied with the results, with many returning to most of their usual activities they were performing before the sacral fracture within a week or so.
What happens after the procedure?
You’ll need someone to drive you home following sacral augmentation. You can return to normal activities, but we recommend avoiding strenuous activities such as heavy lifting for at least six weeks.
You might feel pain relief right away, or it might take a few days. Pain caused by the procedure itself should be gone within two to three days.
Keep your bandage on for two days and taking showers instead of baths. Also, listen to any other instructions from your healthcare providers.
