What is Kyphoplasty
Description
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal surgery procedure. It is used to treat painful progressive vertebral body collapse/fracture (VCFs). The VCFs may be caused by osteoporosis or the spread of tumor to the vertebral body. Osteoporosis is age related softening of bones. It causes the building blocks of the spine to weaken and collapse. This results in severe pain and a progressive hunchback. Certain forms of cancer also weaken the bone and cause the same problems.
Kyphoplasty is not appropriate for:
- Patients with young, healthy bones or those who sustained a vertebral body fracture or collapse in a major accident
- Patients with spinal curvature such as scoliosis or kyphosis that is due to causes other than osteoporosis
- Patients who suffer from spinal stenosis or herniated discs with nerve or spinal cord compression and loss of neurological function not associated with a vertebral compression fracture
The kyphoplasty procedure involves the use of a balloon to restore the vertebral body height and shape. This is followed by bone cement to strengthen it. The procedure may be performed under intravenous sedation. The patient may need local anesthetic or general anesthetic. The patient lies face-down on the operating room table. Two X-ray machines are used to show the collapsed bones. The surgeon makes two small (less than 3mm) incisions. He or she inserts a tube into the center of the vertebral body. Through this tube, balloons are placed in the center of the vertebral body. (See Figure 1.) Then the balloons are inflated. (See Figure 2.) This pushes the bone back towards its normal height and shape. It also helps create a cavity. The surgeon will fill the cavity with the bone cement.
