Fast relief from a painful spinal compression fracture
Kyphoplasty stabilizes a collapsed vertebra from the inside. A small balloon creates space in the broken bone, which is then filled with bone cement. It is done through a tiny opening in the back, without open surgery, and most patients go home the same day.
Call to book: 737-241-2184 How kyphoplasty worksWhat is a compression fracture, and how does kyphoplasty help?
The spine is made of stacked bones called vertebrae. When bones are thinned by osteoporosis, or weakened by cancer, a vertebra can collapse under everyday pressure. This is called a vertebral compression fracture.
These fractures can cause severe pain and make it hard to sit, stand or walk. Over time, several fractures can lead to height loss and a stooped posture. For older adults, long periods of bed rest and strong pain medication bring their own risks.
In kyphoplasty, a needle is guided into the broken vertebra. A small balloon is inflated to create a space and restore some of the bone's height. The balloon is removed, and the space is filled with bone cement, which hardens within minutes and stabilizes the fracture.
Who is a good candidate?
Kyphoplasty is used for painful compression fractures that have not yet healed. It is often a good fit if you:
- Have a recent, painful compression fracture that is limiting your ability to move, sleep or care for yourself.1,3
- Have pain that is not controlled with medication, rest or a brace, or side effects from strong pain medication.
- Are an older adult for whom staying in bed carries risks such as weakness, blood clots or pneumonia.
- Have a fracture caused by cancer in the spine, such as myeloma or cancer that has spread to the bone.
Kyphoplasty treats the fracture, not the osteoporosis behind it. In the main randomized trial, nearly half of patients developed new fractures on X-ray within two years, whether or not they had kyphoplasty.2 Treating bone density is therefore an essential part of care, and we work with your primary care doctor or specialist to make sure it happens.
How we decide whether kyphoplasty is right for you
We confirm that a recent fracture is the cause of your pain, and that kyphoplasty is likely to help.
Consultation & exam
We review when the pain began and how it affects you, and check for tenderness over the fractured bone.
MRI or CT
An MRI shows whether a fracture is recent and still unhealed, which is when kyphoplasty works best. CT or a bone scan can be used if MRI is not possible.
Bone health
A bone density test and a review of your osteoporosis treatment help lower your risk of future fractures.
How kyphoplasty compares with other options
Many compression fractures heal on their own over weeks to months. Treatment depends on how severe your pain is and how much it limits you.
| Option | How it works | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Rest, brace & pain medication | Pain relief and support while the fracture heals | Works for many people; strong pain medication and long bed rest can cause problems in older adults |
| Vertebroplasty | Bone cement is injected into the fracture without a balloon | In placebo-controlled trials, it was not clearly better than a sham procedure5 |
| Kyphoplasty | A balloon creates space, then cement stabilizes the fracture | Faster improvement than non-surgical care in a randomized trial; no open surgery; same-day discharge1 |
| Spine surgery | The spine is fixed with screws and rods | Rarely needed; reserved for unstable fractures or pressure on the nerves or spinal cord |
What happens during kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty typically takes under an hour for each fractured vertebra.
Preparation
You lie on your stomach and receive sedation and local anesthetic to numb the skin and the bone.
Needle placement
Using X-ray guidance, a hollow needle is passed through a tiny opening in the skin of your back into the fractured vertebra. No open incision or stitches are needed.
Balloon
A small balloon is inflated inside the vertebra to create a space and restore some of the bone's height, and is then removed.
Bone cement
The space is carefully filled with bone cement under continuous X-ray monitoring. The cement hardens within minutes and stabilizes the fracture.
Recovery
A small bandage is applied. You rest for 30 to 60 minutes and go home the same day.
Results
Kyphoplasty has been compared with non-surgical care in a large international randomized trial, and studied in hundreds of U.S. patients.1,3
Average pain score (out of 10) before and 3 months after kyphoplasty in 354 patients across 24 U.S. sites. The share who could walk without help rose from 42% to 63% at 1 year.3
Improvement in quality of life and back pain than with non-surgical care in a randomized trial of 300 patients. Back pain remained better at 2 years.1,2
Lower risk of death for patients who had vertebral augmentation than for those treated without it, in a review of 16 studies and more than 2 million patients.4
In the randomized trial, the difference in overall quality of life between kyphoplasty and non-surgical care was largest early on and was no longer significant at 1 and 2 years, though back pain stayed lower with kyphoplasty.2 The mortality findings come from observational studies, which cannot prove that the procedure itself caused the difference.4 Individual results vary, and no treatment can guarantee success.
Risks and side effects
Serious complications from kyphoplasty are uncommon. In the U.S. study of 354 patients, problems related to the device or procedure occurred in about 1.4%, and all resolved with treatment.3 We discuss all risks with you in detail beforehand:
- Soreness at the needle site for a few days
- Small amounts of cement leaking outside the vertebra, which happened at about 1 in 5 treated levels and usually causes no symptoms3
- Rarely, cement reaching a nerve or traveling through a vein, which can cause serious problems
- New fractures in other vertebrae, which are common with osteoporosis; in the randomized trial they were not more frequent after kyphoplasty than with non-surgical care2
- Rarely, infection or bleeding1,2
- Reaction to sedation
Frequently asked questions
Is the procedure painful?
You receive sedation and local anesthetic, so most patients feel only pressure during the procedure. Some soreness at the needle site for a few days is normal.
How soon will I feel better?
Many patients notice less pain within days. In the large U.S. study, pain was already significantly better at 7 days.3
Can I walk afterward?
Yes. Most patients walk the same day. Your physician will give you specific instructions about lifting and activity.
Will kyphoplasty prevent future fractures?
No. Kyphoplasty treats the fractured bone, but osteoporosis can still cause fractures elsewhere in the spine. Treating your bone density is the best way to lower that risk.2
Is it too late if my fracture happened months ago?
Not necessarily. An MRI shows whether the fracture is still unhealed. If it is, kyphoplasty may still help.
Is it covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by policy. We will navigate out-of-pocket costs with you. Call us at 737-241-2184 with questions.
Find out whether kyphoplasty is right for you
If a spinal compression fracture is causing pain that keeps you from moving normally, an evaluation can show whether kyphoplasty is a good option.
Call 737-241-2184 to scheduleReferences
- Wardlaw D, Cummings SR, Van Meirhaeghe J, et al. Efficacy and safety of balloon kyphoplasty compared with non-surgical care for vertebral compression fracture (FREE): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2009;373(9668):1016–1024. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60010-6
- Boonen S, Van Meirhaeghe J, Bastian L, et al. Balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of acute vertebral compression fractures: 2-year results from a randomized trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2011;26(7):1627–1637. doi:10.1002/jbmr.364
- Beall DP, Chambers MR, Thomas S, et al. Prospective and multicenter evaluation of outcomes for quality of life and activities of daily living for balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures: the EVOLVE trial. Neurosurgery. 2019;84(1):169–178. doi:10.1093/neuros/nyy017
- Hinde K, et al. Mortality outcomes of vertebral augmentation (vertebroplasty and/or balloon kyphoplasty) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Radiology. 2020. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020191294
- Buchbinder R, Johnston RV, Rischin KJ, et al. Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;11:CD006349. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006349.pub4
This page provides general information and does not replace a personal medical consultation. Study results describe groups of patients and cannot predict the outcome for an individual. Urology Austin and IR Centers · 8701 N. Mopac, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759 · 737-241-2184