What is?
Kyphoplasty is a method used to treat symptomatic (pain) compression fractures of the spine.
The patient is placed at prone position under local or general anesthesia. Under constant fluoroscopic guidance, a needle is inserted through the skin and into the vertebra.
Then through the needle a balloon is advanced into the vertebra body and inflated, thus restoring the high of the vertebra. Finally, a special kind of cement is injected into the cavity established by the balloon.
Verteroplasty is the same method without inserting and inflicting the balloon. Pain relief is an immediate event for the vast majority of the patients, who can be discharged home, the next day.