A MRI image of vertebral compression fractures, which were fixed through a vertebroplasty procedure in which bone cement is injected through a small hole into the problem area to relieve back pain. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Chronic back pain is a serious condition for anyone who suffers from the ailment.

To help relieve the pain for those suffering from chronic back pain, UPMC Chautauqua WCA offers vertebral augmentation procedures like a vertebroplasty. A vertebroplasty is a medical spinal procedures in which bone cement is injected through a small hole in the skin into a fractured vertebra with the goal of relieving back pain caused by vertebral compression fractures.

Dr. Lyndon Gritters, board-certified radiologist on the medical staff at WCA Hospital, said he has performed more than 400 vertebroplasty procedures to help those living with chronic back pain. He said a vertebroplasty is a same-day procedure that takes less than 15 minutes to perform. He added the procedure is done by taking a skinny needle and inserting it laterally into the spinal cord away from the nerve endings to insert medical cement, which is like toothpaste.

“The procedure keeps the back from collapsing,” he said. “It stops fractures from rubbing and causing chronic back pain. It’s not going to give someone the back of a 20-year-old, but it is very effective.”

Gritters said the goal is to reduce a patients need for taking narcotics to deal with the back pain.

“It is nice to get them off the medicine and being active again,” he said. “I tell them to be careful after the procedure. I tell them not to left anything heavier than a jug of milk and not to be opening windows.”

Jean Pearson of Lakewood had the vertebroplasty performed at UPMC Chautauqua WCA by Gritters and is very thankful she had the procedure done.

“Dr. Gritters knows exactly what he is doing. When I got out of there I felt wonderful and I no longer had to take my pain pill,” she said. “As a former physical education teacher, having back was practically like murder.”

The 83-year-old Pearson needed the vertebroplasty after falling down seven steps, which damaged one of her vertebrae. She was scared and nervous before the procedure, but is now very happy with the treatment she received at UPMC Chautauqua WCA.

“Of course you worry about things going into your spine, but I’m very satisfied with the treatment I got down there at the hospital from Dr. Gritters,” she said. “Falling down seven steps was murder on my vertebrae, but the procedure fixed it up. I don’t even know I had fallen down seven steps now.”

To contact Gritters about the vertebroplasty procedure at UPMC Chautauqua WCA, call 664-8238 or reach him at Jamestown Radiologists at 664-9731.