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Definition of Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure used to treat painful, progressive vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). VCFs occur when the body of a vertebra collapses due to a fracture in it.

  1. Description

    • Kyphoplasty is performed by inserting and inflating a small special balloon into the cavity created in the fractured bone. Then the spaces created by the balloon is filled with PMMA, a type of acrylic cement.

    Similar Procedures

    • Kyphoplasty is similar to another procedure, vertebroplasty. However, vertebroplasty does not use balloons.

    History

    • Kyphoplasty was developed in the 1990s as an updated version of vertebroplasty.

    Caution

    • Kyphoplasty is not appropriate for patients with young, healthy bones; those who have sustained a vertebral body fracture or collapse in a major accident; or those with spinal curvature derived from a cause other than osteoporosis.

    Significance

    • Kyphoplasty is not only a minimally invasive treatment, but restores vertebral height and reduced spinal deformity with insertion of cement and balloons.

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