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Kyphoplasty: Shoring Up
Fractured Spines

Osteoporosis — the disease that causes bones to weaken and break more easily — will cause about 700,000 painful spinal compression fractures in Americans this year. Multiple compression fractures can lead to a condition called kyphosis, which causes a person to become shorter or stooped over.

“Thankfully, there is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, called kyphoplasty, that addresses the back pain and deformity caused by compression fractures,” said David Linkous, M.D., a spinal interventional radiologist and medical director of diagnostic imaging services at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. “Kyphoplasty helps correct the spinal alignment by restoring the height of the crushed vertebra and reducing any deformity.”

How Does It Work?

Kyphoplasty requires only the tiniest of skin incisions. First, the physician uses two needles to gain access to the vertebral body before inserting two balloons, which are inflated. Next, the balloons are removed and bone cement is injected to fill the fractured bone and strengthen it. This restores height and reduces kyphosis.

Results and Side Effects

Patients often are able to get out of bed within several hours of the procedure and can generally leave the hospital that day or the next morning. The most common complication is cement leakage from the fractured bone. Most patients enjoy significant pain relief within the first few days, Dr. Linkous said.