Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that involves injecting a special cement into your vertebrae after space has been created with a balloon-like device (balloon vertebroplasty). Kyphoplasty can restore a damaged vertebra’s height, may also relieve pain, and stabilize the joints.
It is used to treat a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). VCF’s occur when the bone in the spine collapses from trauma or osteoporosis, which may cause extreme pain, deformity, and loss of height.
The incidence of VCF’s increases with age and most result from low energy injuries in older people with osteoporosis. However, other possible causes of VCF’s include trauma from car accidents, sports injuries or bone tumors or cancer that has spread to the bones.
Both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are more likely to be successful if done in near proximetry of a fracture diagnosis. They can help relieve pain and improve mobility when other measures fail to provide relief.
