Osteoporosis Treatment & Management

Osteoporosis: An Overview

Osteoporosis means “bones with holes.” The bone is a living substance that undergoes continuous breakdown and regeneration. Osteoporosis develops when the production of new bones fails to keep pace with the loss of old bone due to the loss of Calcium.
Once Osteoporosis sets in, your bones lose their density and strength. They become weak, brittle, and fragile bones that cannot withstand even the slightest strain. In fact, even a small fall, sudden bending, or coughing can cause a fracture, mainly in your spine, hip or wrists.

Osteoporosis is common in both men and women, regardless of race. However, Asian and white women undergoing menopause are more at risk of developing this condition. Fortunately, with Osteoporosis, proper preventive measures can effectively hinder its progression, thereby minimising further health complications.

At Spine 360, a spine specialist hospital in Bangalore, we aim to help you combat the debilitating effects of Osteoporosis with our advanced care and personalised treatments. Our team prioritises proactive treatment and cutting-edge strategies to enable patients to lead fulfilling lives despite osteoporosis challenges.

Osteoporosis: Risk Factors

Apart from age, Osteoporosis can occur due to many factors, such as:

Age

risk increase with advancing age

Family history

osteoporosis among parents or siblings increases risk, especially if one of them had suffered a fractured hip.

Women

especially older women who are past menopause – are at highest risk.

Body habitus

small body frames might have less bone mass to draw from as they age, hence an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

Diet

Osteoporosis may also occur to improper dietary intake

Calcium – Prolonged deficiency of calcium in diet leads to decreased bone density, early bone loss and high risk of fractures.
Decreased food intake – Disorders of eating such as bulimia nervosa and crash diets that severely restrict food intake lead to undernourishment and weakening bones in males and females.
Abdominal surgery – Surgeries that remove portions of the digestive system such as bariatric surgery to reduce the stomach size or removal of part of the intestines due to disease limits the ability to calcium.

Lifestyle

Abnormal habits may elevate risk of developing osteoporosis.

Sedentary life – those with desk jobs involving prolonged sitting, indoor office work, reduced outdoor physical activities, “couch potatoes”, have a greater risk of osteoporosis.
Alcohol – Excessive consumption (more than two alcoholic drinks per day) found to increase risk of osteoporosis.
Smoking – use of tobacco has shown to contribute to weak bones.

Hormones

Osteoporosis is more common in people who have excess or reduced levels of certain hormones – such as:

Estrogen – reduced levels in women post menopause
Testosterone – reduces in men as they age.
Certain hormonal suppressive therapy like that for prostate cancer (reduce testosterone levels in men) and for breast cancer (reduce estrogen levels in women) can accelerate bone loss.
Thyroid hormone - excess can cause bone loss – as seen in hyperactive thyroid gland or taking too much thyroxine supplementation.
Parathyroid and adrenal glands - Osteoporosis has also been associated with excess hormones from these other glands

Medical conditions & Medications

Certain conditions and drugs predispose to the development of osteoporosis:

Lupus
Multiple myeloma
Rheumatoid arthritis
Celiac disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Kidney or liver disease
Steroids: Prolonged use in cancer, transplants etc., can interfere with the bone-rebuilding process and cause osteoporosis

Osteoporosis: Causes, Symptoms, & Warnings

Symptoms:

Most patients do not have any symptoms. Any sort of back pain ranging from diffuse dull aching to severe debilitating symptoms.

Warnings:

The “Red flags” especially in elderly patients include:

Sudden, severe back pain – may or may not be related to a pre-existing injury
Pain worsening on standing or walking
Difficulty straightening or bending or twisting back

Change in shape of spine – tendency to remain stooped
Pain persisting even on lying down
Pain that shoots down the arms or legs

Diagnostic Tests for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis treatment at Spine 360 starts with a thorough physical examination to evaluate your bone condition. Our spine surgeon will gather information about your family history to ascertain the risks. To help further diagnosis, we may suggest the following tests:

A lab technician is testing the blood samples.

General blood and urine tests

Trabecular Bone Score or TBS to measure bone quality and evaluate fracture risk

A patient is examined for spine osteoporosis.

Vertebral Fracture Assessment or VFA to identify fractures that may occur without symptoms

A doctor explains Osteoporosis with an x-ray.

DEXA scan - A low-radiation x-ray to measure bone mineral density

Spine 360: Non-Surgical Treatment for Osteoporosis

Our Osteoporosis treatment is primarily centred around fracture prevention and bone strengthening with medication and lifestyle changes.

Medications

As suggested by your doctor include

Calcium and Vitamin D supplements
Medicines to prevent bone loss and help bone building – Bisphosphonates, Hormonal therapy.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle modification & home remedies include

Stop smoking
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
Prevent falls.

Spine 360: Surgical Treatments for Osteoporosis

Doctors at Spine 360 prioritise minimally invasive surgical options to rectify osteoporotic fractural damage to the spine. Our top minimally invasive surgical suggestions are:

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is a medical procedure that entails injecting cement into a fractured or damaged spinal bone with the goal of alleviating pain. Frequently utilised to address compression fractures, often associated with osteoporosis and the resultant compromise in bone strength, this intervention serves to strengthen the spinal bones or vertebrae, effectively relieving pain.

Balloon Kyphoplasty

In this surgical procedure, a small incision is made in the back, and a tiny tube is inserted to establish a precise pathway to the affected fracture area. Once the tube reaches the location, our surgeons inflate a balloon into the vertebrae. The fractured bones are realigned through this method, thereby alleviating pain and generating a cavity. The balloon is removed, and the cavity is filled with bone cement to strengthen and stabilise the bone.

Stentoplasty (VBS)

Stentoplasty is a specialised technique designed for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. This procedure entails the insertion of a stent into the collapsed vertebra, subsequently expanding it to restore vertebral height. The process also involves the injection of bone cement for stabilisation, resulting in the effective relief of pain and the restoration of spinal integrity. Notably, this technique is associated with a low-risk profile.

Spinal Fixation

The primary goal of spinal fixation surgery in osteoporotic patients is to stabilise and realign the spine. The surgery involves the use of rods, screws, and sometimes plates to stabilise the affected vertebrae. This involves placing new bone material around the spine to promote bone growth and fusion among the vertebrae.

Prevent Osteoporosis With Spine 360

Take your first step towards a transformational health journey. Preserve your bone health with our Osteoporosis treatment.

Osteoporosis Treatment

Osteoporosis: An Overview

Osteoporosis: Risk Factors

Osteoporosis: Causes, Symptoms, & Warnings

Symptoms:

Warnings:

Diagnostic Tests for Osteoporosis

Spine 360: Non-Surgical Treatment for Osteoporosis

Spine 360: Surgical Treatments for Osteoporosis

Prevent Osteoporosis With Spine 360

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