Monash research team gives hope to patients with spinal factures

Alexander Rodriguez and Dr Jasna Aleksova
at the ASBMR annual scientific meeting

Monash researchers made significant contributions towards improving pain management associated with spinal fractures at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) annual scientific meeting last month in Atlanta.

Chair of Medicine at Monash Health and Head, Department of Medicine at Monash University Professor Peter Ebeling led the ASBMR Taskforce reporting on vertebral augmentation and was joined by his PhD students Dr Jasna Aleksova and Mr Alexander Rodriguez at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta.

“1.5 million vertebral compression fractures (fracture in the spine) occur every year in the USA and there is a similar high prevalence in Australia,” said Alexander. 

“Current therapies are inadequate as they only treat the pain rather than the
underlying fracture causing the pain.”

Alexander said their research showed that kyphoplasty (a type of surgery that restores cracked vertebrae in the spine by inflating a balloon and then injecting cement into the vertebral body) is effective at relieving pain and disability compared to standard therapy of pain medications and physical therapy.  However, kyphoplasty was not more effective than other types of surgical interventions for painful vertebral fractures.

“These findings are significant because clinicians will now have an evidence base in which to discuss treatment options with their patients,” said Alexander.

The research team’s findings form part of the ASBMR Taskforce on Vertebral Augmentation, which is being compiled as the Society’s clinical guideline for clinicians and patients.

First year PhD student and Monash Health endocrinologist, Dr Aleksova, was selected from a highly competitive international cohort of researchers to attend the Endocrine Fellows Forum on Metabolic Bone Disorders prior to the ASBMR annual scientific meeting.

“Participating at the conference was an incredible opportunity to learn from international experts as well as meet and discuss research ideas and aspirations on an individual level,” said Dr Aleksova.

Fellow member of the ASBMR Taskforce and PhD student Alexander has co-authored a meta-analysis on outcomes of kyphoplasty to treat back pain from compression fractures in the spine. His study formed the bulk of the Taskforce report on kyphoplasty presented at the meeting.

“I’m very proud of both Jasna and Alex,” said Professor Ebeling.

“They both acquitted themselves with great professionalism and were not daunted by the size of the ASBMR meeting and rose to new challenges—they both have bright futures ahead in clinical practice and research, with growing international networks.”