Ho Chi Minh City Ms. Manh, 84 years old, had severe back pain after a fall. The doctor injected biological cement to stabilize the collapsed vertebrae and restore mobility.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Manh (from Phu Yen) came to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for examination with severe back pain, coughing, and sneezing. The pain appeared after she fell twice at home, and medication did not help. A week before being admitted to the hospital, she had to stay in bed.
On August 25, Master, Doctor Vu Duc Thang, Department of Spinal Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Trauma Center, said that the patient had collapsed vertebrae T10 (10th thoracic vertebra) and L1 (1st lumbar vertebra), causing severe bone marrow edema.
According to Dr. Thang, spinal collapse is very dangerous. If not diagnosed and treated properly, it can affect the balance of the spine, causing the risk of degeneration and deformation of the spine. In the long term, spinal collapse compresses internal organs, damages nerves, causes pain, affects mobility, and causes disability.
The doctor prescribed treatment for Ms. Manh by injecting biological cement into the vertebrae. Biological cement is liquid and compatible with biological tissue. When injected into the body with a needle, this substance hardens the two collapsed vertebrae. This is a safe, minimally invasive technique for spinal reconstruction, limiting complications and shortening hospital stays.
Doctor Thang (second from right) during a surgery to treat spinal disease. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
During the 30-minute procedure, the doctor uses the C-Arm imaging system to continuously monitor the needle's path, ensuring it reaches the correct location without damaging other organs. The technique is locally invasive, so the patient only needs anesthesia, no general anesthesia, and pain relief is faster.
After one night, Ms. Manh was able to sit up and walk lightly. She was discharged early, the hospitalization and treatment time was less than two days, and she had a follow-up visit after 7 days.
The patient walks around, preparing to be discharged on the first day after surgery. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
Doctor Thang said that in healthy people, after a fall, vertebral collapse does not occur. However, in the elderly, especially postmenopausal women, osteoporosis occurs. Even light collisions, even sneezing, can cause vertebral collapse. Depending on the level of collapse and the patient's health, the doctor will treat it appropriately with medication, bed rest, and braces...
Limited mobility and prolonged bed rest can increase the risk of dangerous complications such as pneumonia, collapsed lung, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities, urinary tract infections, and exhaustion. Therefore, for elderly patients with vertebral collapse due to osteoporosis, acute pain, and ineffective treatment with other methods, doctors prescribe biological cement injection.
Doctor Thang recommends that the elderly should have regular health check-ups and bone density measurements. They should eat a nutritious diet, increase foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, and exercise regularly with appropriate exercises such as yoga and walking.
Phi Hong
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