100-Year-Old Woman Gets Relief from Debilitating Back Pain after Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On World Osteoporosis Day, October 20, centenarian Helen Daniels of Poughkeepsie, NY, has a good reason to smile; she’s able to comfortably walk again following minimally invasive spine surgery. After suffering two spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis, Mrs. Daniels had debilitating back pain. After being treated with a minimally invasive spinal procedure, called balloon kyphoplasty, she no longer suffers from back pain and is able to walk with the aid of a walker or cane.

Osteoporosis is a disease that leads to fragile bones and an increased susceptibility to fractures of the spine, hip or wrist. The degenerative disease is the main cause of the estimated 1.4 million vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) of the spine suffered annually worldwide that need the attention of a physician.i The International Osteoporosis Foundation is sponsoring World Osteoporosis Day on October 20 with the goal of informing and educating the patients and policy makers about osteoporosis prevention. The day encourages individuals to take steps to improve their bone health.

“World Osteoporosis Day is the ideal occasion to bring attention to this disease that affects an estimated 75 million people in the United States, Japan and Europe,” said Alex DiNello, vice president and general manager, KYPHON® products, part of the Spinal and Biologics business at Medtronic. “Mrs. Daniels’ positive outcome is further evidence, as supported in a recent studyii, that patients who are treated with balloon kyphoplasty may experience better quality of life, back function and back pain relief than those who undergo only non-surgical management.”

Mrs. Daniels sustained two VCFs in December of 2008 and was treated at first with back braces and pain medication by her private care physician, Dr. Rajiv Narula. However, the pain persisted. Dr. Narula referred her to Dr. Kenneth Hansraj, an orthopedic spine specialist with New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine, who performed the balloon kyphoplasty procedure.

During the minimally invasive balloon kyphoplasty procedure that gave Mrs. Daniels relief from her back pain, tiny balloons are inserted into fractured vertebrae and inflated to create a space. The space created by the balloons is filled with a special type of cement to secure the position of the bones.

“Mrs. Daniels is in remarkable health and was an ideal candidate for the procedure,” said Dr. Hansraj. “Today Mrs. Daniels reports no back pain, is walking and, most importantly, is enjoying her time with her four sons and eight grandchildren.”