Zack:

Sounds like you had a good result from your surgery. Kyphoplasty is probably related to an attempt to prevent any type of kyphosis which is basically an angulation of the spine. If your spine is in alignment and no problems with subluxation or other spine issue, you are on solid ground and just need to rehab and get used to cabin fever for awhile. Sounds like you had good ortho or neurosurgical care. Follow your Drs orders and you will be solidly in your boat before you know it.

Brent

Thanks for the words of encouragement Brent but I actually never had any surgery. Everyone tells me how lucky I am to have come through this with just the injuries I have. The fact that I landed on a slope instead of on a flat surface is what spared me more serious injuries/death I think.
Zack

Wow! Even better. You should be fine then, just don't go out and overdo it too soon. That is very lucky. Spine injuries can bring great big problems and to not have to undergo surgery is fabulous. Did they put you in traction at all? Or, just the brace?
Brent

I've had a couple close ones in the gorge too. Once just backpacking (bushwacking) i slid down a rock face and landed in a tree top. It was another 40 ft down or so, luckily there was a ledge beside me. The other was while rapelling at Eagles Nest in the waterfall. Luckily someone was there to give me a firemans belay, about 20 ft off the deck. I've always been more careful and actually quit rapelling completely, except for when i'm climbing. Read "Freedom of the Hills" while your down and out, give the brain the knowledge to prevent future mishaps.

Kyphoplasty is a relatively new (2-3 yrs) procedure for the treatment of compression fractures of the vertebral bodies. As Brent eluded to, sometimes it is utilized to maintain alignment but really it's more than that. A synthetic glue / resin is injected into the vertebral body to restore it's size / shape. This offers several benefits:
-preservation of spinal alignment
-preservation of spinal height (when you are short like me, and aren't married yet, that could be a biggie!
-pain relief ... significantly less pain than traditional treatments
-almost immediate return to function (unless other injuries prevent that)

It's a procedure that's done under fluoroscopy / CT and requires no cutting. Even can be used in the old and debilitated.

Sounds like your other fractures are of the transverse processes, the little wings that stick out on each side of each vertebra for muscle attachment. The usually heal just fine with immobilization... the dreaded turtle shell.

Wes

Brent, no traction just this jewett brace. I get to take it off(someone else does it while I lay there)at night and just sleep in a C collar.
Wes, I think the reason I'm just wearing the brace is while my T4 was a compression fracture it only cracked; it didn't burst.
Dustin, I've been climbing/rapelling in RRG for the last 10 years. This incident makes me want to walk away from it forever. I will always go back to the gorge for hiking and camping but I just don't know if I will ever do those 200' rapells or dangerous free climbs like I have in the past.
I will however get back in my kayaks no matter how long I have to wait.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be a good rehabilitation exercise once I get out of this brace. I'm sure the Dr. will tell me, I just figured some of you might have some experience/insight.
Zack
Having your lady give you sponge baths is cool and everything but I never realized how much I would miss being able to take a shower