What is Kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a short outpatient surgical procedure performed to reduce pain associated with fractured bones in the spine. This procedure has a high success rate and is one method that can be used to correct and stabilize fractures that occur when spinal bones, called vertebral bodies, become weak. This is typically due to osteoporosis.

Kyphoplasty surgery is minimally invasive and may be performed with sedation to repair painful vertebral compression fractures. Also known as balloon kyphoplasty, the process involves inserting a balloon into the vertebral space to help return the collapsed vertebral body to a normal height. The bone cement can then be injected to stabilize the compressed vertebrae.

A kyphoplasty procedure takes an hour or less to complete, and you will be able to return home the same day. Recovery time is minimal, with the majority of patients reporting immediate pain relief from the procedure.

To find out if kyphoplasty may help you, call us today at (480) 573-0130 or contact us online.

Why Choose Kyphoplasty?

Vertebral compression fractures can happen for a few reasons, causing pain and loss of movement. Osteoporosis, or a change in bone density and strength, is a common cause. This often happens as people age and affects as many as 54 million people¹ age 50 and older in the United States, including as many as one in two women and one in four men.

In some cases, compression fractures can be related to certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma, and as a result of some injuries.

What Are Some Signs of Vertebral Compression Fractures?

Symptoms from compression fractures² can appear suddenly, or there may be no symptoms at all at first. They include:

• Severe, sharp, “knife-like” back pain, especially in the middle or lower spine
• Back pain that is worse when you walk but improves with rest
• Difficulty standing up straight
• A decrease in height
• Rarely, numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder control

Non-surgical treatment options can sometimes help improve pain from compression fractures. However, because kyphoplasty is best performed soon after a vertebral compression fracture, it’s important not to wait to see a doctor to discuss treatment options. Your board-certified pain specialist at Advanced Spine and Pain can help you determine the best treatment for your situation.

What Happens During a Kyphoplasty?

Your surgical team will typically give you sedation and a local anesthetic to perform a kyphoplasty procedure.

The surgeon inserts a hollow needle (also called a cannula or trocar) through the skin and into the vertebral body. This is guided using continuous x-ray imaging called fluoroscopy. An inflatable balloon filled with contrast material, which makes it visible under x-ray guidance, expands the compressed bone.

The balloon is then removed, and medical-grade cement is injected into the cavity, using fluoroscopic imaging. This helps ensure that the cement does not leak out of the bone. Once the cement hardens, the vertebral body should have improved structure and stability, and the patient should have less pain. Kyphoplasty can treat multiple bone fractures at a time if needed.

What Happens After a Kyphoplasty?

After the procedure, your healthcare team will observe you for a brief period, and then you will be able to return home. It is typically recommended that someone drive you home following the procedure.

Kyphoplasty recovery time varies from person to person, but the procedure itself is minimally invasive. Most people — as many as 92% — who have a kyphoplasty report significant pain relief³. This pain relief is usually noticed within 48 hours of the procedure. Minor discomfort from the procedure itself, such as soreness around the injection site, may last a few days.

Your doctor will tell you when you can fully return to your regular activities and how long you should avoid strenuous exertion or activities such as heavy lifting. Full recovery may take up to four to six weeks, but most people can return to normal activities within a day.

Kyphoplasty FAQs

Choosing a kyphoplasty for pain relief is best done after consultation with an experienced pain and spine treatment team. They can help you consider all treatment options available before deciding whether to have a kyphoplasty procedure. Your discussion may include several common questions:

Who can diagnose compression fractures?

A primary care doctor may diagnose compression fractures after a physical exam and imaging tests such as MRI, CT scan, or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. They can then refer you to a spine specialist for further treatment recommendations.

Where is a kyphoplasty done?

Because kyphoplasty is minimally invasive, it can be done either at a hospital or outpatient clinic like one of Advanced Pain and Spine’s many locations.

How long does a kyphoplasty last?

Kyphoplasty can provide good pain relief from pain caused by vertebral compression fractures years after the procedure. In one study⁴, significant relief was still seen three years post-surgery.

What are some risks of kyphoplasty?

Like any medical procedure, kyphoplasty has some potential risks. However, these are generally rare, and kyphoplasty is considered a low-risk procedure. Risks include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Leakage of cement from the bone
• Worsening pain
• An allergic reaction to the contrast or cement used in the procedure

What are some reasons not to have a kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty may not be your only choice for addressing pain due to compression fractures. For example, you may consider kyphoplasty vs. vertebroplasty. There are also a few reasons why a kyphoplasty procedure might not be recommended⁵, including:

• Fractures that have healed entirely or respond well to other treatments, like physical therapy or bracing
• Fractures that have been present for more than a year
• Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
• Herniated discs
• Fractures involving bone fragments that could damage the spinal cord
• A vertebral body that has more than 80-90% collapse

Ready to Learn More About Kyphoplasty?

If you’re living with back pain due to vertebral compression fractures and want to learn more about your options for treatment, including kyphoplasty, the specialists at Advanced Spine and Pain can help you understand the best course of action.

Contact us today for expert advice from our team or call us at (480) 573-0130.

References

1. "What is Osteoporosis?" Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. (n.d.). https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/
2. "Penn Medicine - Conditions Treated A to Z: Compression Fracture." Penn Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/compression-fracture
3. Bergmann, M., Oberkircher, L., Bliemel, C., Frangen, T. M., Ruchholtz, S., Kruger, A. (2012). “Early clinical outcome and complications related to balloon kyphoplasty.” Orthopedic Reviews, vol. 4, issue 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3395994/#R4
4. Casperk, C. et al. (2010). “Three-year outcomes after kyphoplasty in patients with osteoporosis with painful vertebral fractures.” Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, vol. 21, issue 5, pp. 701-709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2010.01.003
5. "Vertebral Compression Fractures." American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). (n.d.). https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Vertebral-Compression-Fractures