What Does the Procedure Involve?

Kyphoplasty works by filling a fractured vertebra with bone cement. This should provide the bone with enough support to withstand the normal wear and tear of day-to-day life.

The kyphoplasty procedure typically proceeds as follows:

• Using X-ray guidance, the surgeon guides a needle towards the damaged vertebra
• A balloon attached to the needle is inflated in the fractured vertebra to open up space
• When space is made, the bone cement mixture is injected
• The needle is removed and the surgical are is bandaged up; no stitches necessary

The entire procedure can usually be completed in under an hour, provided only one vertebra is being operated on. No incisions are needed for this minimally invasive operation. You can return home the same day as the procedure, but you should be prepared to rest for the next few days.

Should You Get a Kyphoplasty?

The best time to get a kyphoplasty is within two months from the moment the fracture appears in your spine. Any longer than this and there is a chance the fracture will keep expanding to the point that kyphoplasty will no longer be effective.

Symptoms of a spinal fracture include:

• Back and/or neck pain
• Numbness
• Tingling sensations
• Bowel changes
• Weakness
• Muscle spasms