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At his practice in Crystal River, Florida, spine surgeon Constantine Toumbis, MD, cares for patients with health problems that impact the spine. To address compression fractures, Constantine Toumbis, MD, performs the kyphoplasty procedure.
When people have osteoporosis, the bones can become so compromised that they collapse under pressure. In osteoporosis of the spine, the vertebral body itself thins out and crumbles. The fractured bone can no longer provide protection to the nerves that reside in and around the spinal column. These spinal compression fractures can cause a great deal of pain. Nonsurgical treatments for spinal fractures include pain management drugs and braces to allow the bone to heal, which can take roughly three months. Candidates for surgery include those who exhibit spinal instability, those with fractures that cause spinal cord pressure, and those who do not have symptom relief from nonsurgical measures. Some patients may benefit from kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive option often performed under local anesthetic. In this procedure, the physician uses a thin instrument that contains a special balloon. The instrument is inserted into the back at the location of the fracture, and then air is pushed into the balloon so that it opens a space in the bone. Into the space, the surgeon injects a mixture that buttresses the bone to prevent further collapse. Usually, kyphoplasty takes less than 60 minutes and requires no stitches.
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 Dr. Constantine Toumbis, a fellowship-trained spine surgeon, treats patients at Citrus Spine Institute in Crystal River, Florida. He earned his MD with distinction in biomedical research from the Wayne State University School of Medicine. At Citrus Spine Institute, Dr. Constantine Toumbis performs a variety of surgeries, including spinal fusion.
The spinal fusion procedure aims to join two or more vertebrae together permanently in order to prevent them from moving against one another. The procedure mimics the natural bone healing process, achieving fusion through the strategic placement of bone tissue or a similar synthetic substance between the vertebrae. During the procedure, surgeons may also implant rods and screws to keep the vertebrae in place as they heal together. Spinal fusion is used to treat problems like spinal deformities, as in the case of scoliosis, or structural issues like herniated disks or spinal instability. The procedure can also address chronic back pain. Oftentimes, spinal fusion follows a regimen of less invasive, more conservative treatment options that fail to address the underlying problems. |
AuthorA surgeon focusing on spinal care, Dr. Constantine Toumbis treats patients at Citrus Spine Institute. Archives
November 2021
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