KYPHOPLASTY

What Is Kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat vertebral compression fractures in the spine, particularly those caused by osteoporosis or trauma. It involves the use of special balloons and bone cement to restore vertebral height, stabilize the fractured bone, and relieve pain.

Physicians and Spinal Specialists perform a Kyphoplasty procedure to repair spinal fractures. When a spinal vertebrae fractures to the point of instability, Physicians can inject a small balloon into the fractured area of the spine and inflate the bone back into proper shape. Once the surgeon has reshaped the bone, they inject a medical-grade cement into the space that hardens into a permanent structure, stabilizing the spine once more. Patients usually recover from a Kyphoplasty procedure relatively quickly.

How Does Kyphoplasty Work?

During kyphoplasty, the patient is placed under local or general anesthesia. A small incision is made in the back, and a narrow tube called a trocar is guided through the incision into the fractured vertebral body under fluoroscopic guidance (real-time X-ray imaging). Special balloons are then inserted through the trocar and inflated to create a cavity or void in the collapsed vertebral body. The balloons are deflated and removed, and the created space is filled with bone cement, which hardens and stabilizes the fracture. The procedure is typically performed on both sides of the vertebral body to restore balance and symmetry.

By restoring vertebral height and stabilizing the fractured bone, kyphoplasty aims to relieve pain and improve spinal function. The procedure can help alleviate acute pain associated with the fracture, prevent further collapse of the vertebra, and restore vertebral height, which may improve posture and overall spinal alignment.