Kyphoplasty

January 3, 2022

Kyphoplasty is a type of treatment for compression fractures of the lumbar and thoracic spine column. Compression fractures occur when the bone is weakened because of loss of calcium (osteoporosis) or because of trauma (for example, after a hard landing while snowboarding).

Compression fractures are like any other broken bone in that they can hurt. By placing a cement like material into the vertebral body, we can stabilize the broken bone and take away the pain.

Kyphoplasty is done via a special needle placement through the skin in the back. The cement is injected into the vertebral body after augmentation of the fractured bone via a balloon or another type of flexible device. This is an outpatient procedure performed at a surgery center, where patient’s pain is generally alleviated shortly after the procedure is done.