Spinal Fracture Repair: Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
Advanced procedures such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are used to treat painful vertebral compression fractures in the spine.
Typically, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are recommended after less invasive treatments, such as bed rest, a back brace or pain medication, have been ineffective.
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally-invasive procedures that repair a vertebral compression fracture by reconstructing compressed vertebral bone, restoring alignment or removing pressure on a nerve. These procedures can help restore the spine’s natural shape. Some patients experience rapid pain relief after the procedure.
Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures involve the placement of cement into the fractured vertebra through small, minimally invasive incisions in the skin under X-ray guidance using fluoroscopy. They require very little healing time. They also use acrylic bone cement that hardens quickly, stabilizing the spinal bone fragments and therefore stabilizing the spine immediately. Most patients go home the same day or after one night’s hospital stay.