Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive surgery aimed at stabilizing vertebral body bony fractures. In doing so, pain from the fracture is promptly diminished and often completely abolished.
The patient is treated with local anesthesia and light conscious sedation often in the setting of a surgical center or hospital operating room. A large bore needle is guided into the fractured vertebrae under fluoroscopic x-ray guidance through a small skin puncture.
Bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae under pressure. The spine needle is removed and the bone cement hardens quickly, thereby stabilizing and “internally casting” the fracture.
Sterile dressing is applied over the skin wound and the patient is discharged to home usually within an hour of completing the procedure.
Kyphoplasty
Similar in concept to vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty is a surgical technique utilized to stabilize vertebral body bone fractures with the added benefit of reducing the fracture.
The patient is treated with local anesthesia and light conscious sedation often in the setting of a surgical center or hospital operating room. A large bore needle is guided into the fractured vertebrae under fluoroscopic x-ray guidance through a small skin puncture.
A small balloon is introduced through the needle into the fractured vertebrae. The balloon is slowly inflated and elevates the fractured bone to a more normal position while creating a cavity within the bone.
Bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae under pressure. The spine needle is removed and the bone cement hardens quickly, thereby stabilizing and “internally casting” the fracture.
Sterile dressing is applied over the skin wound and the patient is discharged to home usually within an hour of completing the procedure.
