Kyphoplasty

Vertebral fractures in your spine can cause excruciating pain. In recent years, a newer, minimally invasive procedure called kyphoplasty has become an increasingly popular option to treat compression fractures due to trauma or osteoporosis. See Compression fractures.

Kyphoplasty boasts a high success rate of relieving pain and reestablishing mobility—clinical trials support these claims. See NIH page on Kyphoplasty trial. This minimally invasive procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis, and is often well covered by insurance and Medicare.

Positive Outcomes of Kyphoplasty

• Relieves Pain
• Stabilizes Spine
• Stabilizes Vertebral Compression
• Stabilizes Angle of Compression
• Improves Vertebral Height and Shape

Minimally Invasive Procedure

Kyphoplasty begins with using image guidance (fluoroscopy—like a video x-ray machine) to insert a hollow tube through the skin to the damaged vertebra. A small cavity is then created inside the vertebra using instruments such as a balloon or a curette type of device. The doctor then uses another instrument to inject bone cement into the cavity. The tube is removed. The injected cement fills the cavity, stabilizing the vertebra. Once the cement hardens, the procedure is complete.

Recovery from Kyphoplasty

Depending on age and severity of the fracture, the kyphoplasty procedure generally takes only 30-45 minutes. Afterwards, patients are usually asked to rest for 20-30 minutes for observation and then allowed to go home.

While patient activity levels may be limited during the first week following the procedure,  complete and total recovery, barring complications, is expected at two - three weeks. It is also important to realize that any accident or injury significant enough to cause a vertebral compression fracture can also aggravate or cause pain due to disc disease or arthritis of the spine.  These conditions can be more fully evaluated after recovery from kyphoplasty.

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