TODAY news - November 6, 2003

Thursday, November 6, 2003 TODAY

Loma Linda University Medical Center news

HealthFair Expo delivers 2,500 flu shots to community

The line to get free flu shots stretched the length of Drayson Center as people took advantage of the service offered at the HealthFair Expo.

Changing the clock back an hour each fall may become synonymous with getting a flu shot. At least that is the trend seen at the Annual HealthFair Expo held at Loma Linda University Drayson Center on Sunday, October 26. Community members came out in force to the event hosted by Loma Linda University, Loma Linda University Medical Center, and Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, and 2,500 flu shots were given throughout the day-long fair.

After receiving their shot, or while waiting for the line to shrink, visitors got the chance to meander through Drayson's Opsahl Gymnasium filled with 60 booths on health information ranging from stroke prevention to children's safety.

The event provided individuals the opportunity to participate in their own health-care management through free health screenings. Participants also learned to live a healthier lifestyle through information offered at the many health education booths. These people, by taking an active part in their own health care, will not only benefit from treating problems before they arise (preventing pain and anxiety), but making the lifestyle choice to take care of yourself today also saves money for the future.

In addition to free flu shots for adults and children (with a physician's note), many free family health screenings were offered.

Some of the more popular screenings were dental, health-age appraisal, vision, body fat, height/weight, and hearing.

Free educational information was available on topics including disaster preparedness, cardiac care, first aid, home care, organ donation, nutrition, prostate, pharmaceutical care, cancer, senior health, and sports medicine.

Loma Linda University, Medical Center, and Children's Hospital appreciate the support of HealthFair Expo sponsors: the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, the Press-Enterprise newspaper, PennySaver, KOLA 99.9 FM, ALCANCIA, La Prensa, KCAL 96.7 FM, KDIF 1440 AM, KRLA 870 and 590 AM, and CostCo Wholesale.

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Percutaneous vertebroplasty procedure offers alternative to back pain treatments

Loma Linda University Medical Center is successfully relieving chronic back pain in many elderly patients thanks to a spine-stabilizing procedure known as vertebroplasty.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat vertebral compression fractures, generally associated with the progressive bone loss of osteoporosis.

Nearly 80 percent of Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. One of the leading causes of pain is a fracture of a vertebra in the spine. Researchers estimate that at least 25 percent of all women, and a somewhat smaller percentage of men, older than 50 will suffer one or more vertebral compression fractures due to the erosion and natural bone loss of osteoporosis.

While vertebral fractures can certainly occur without pain, more often, with progressive deterioration, they cause intense, radiating and even debilitating pain. Until recently, treatment options for vertebral compression fractures were limited to pain management with strong oral or intravenous medications, reduced activity, bracing or invasive back surgery.

Vertebroplasty, on the other hand, offers patients a promising alternative without the need for major surgery. The technique involves inserting a cement-like material into the center of the collapsed spinal vertebra in order to stabilize and strengthen the crushed bone. With the patient under a local anesthetic, an interventional radiologist inserts a needle into the fractured area of the spine and then, using guided imagery, such as fluoroscopy, fills the cavity with a medical-grade epoxy or glue. Shortly after injection, the cement-like material hardens, creating a supportive structure that prevents further collapse and alleviates pain. The procedure often takes less than an hour and patients are able to return home the same day.

"The greatest benefit of this procedure is pain relief," remarks George Luh, MD, a radiologist at LLUMC. "It allows patients to significantly decrease or completely discontinue their pain medications, and return to their normal daily activities.

"Not everyone is a candidate for this procedure," warns Dr. Luh. "For example, if the back pain radiates down the legs or is difficult to reasonably localize (i.e., ‘it hurts all over'), the vertebroplasty is not as effective. However in favorable patients, this procedure has a high success rate and offers hope to those with back pain."

For more information about vertebroplasty, please consult your physician or call the department of interventional radiology at (909) 558-4370.

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Thursday, November 6, 2003 TODAY