BALLOON KYPHOPLASTY
Balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure done to repair and stabilize spinal fractures called vertebral compression fractures in order to relieve pain and restore function.
what to expect during the procedure
One or two small incisions are made, about 1 cm long. A small pathway is made into the fractured vertebra using a hollow instrument, and an orthopedic balloon is inserted into the bone.
Once in place the balloon is carefully inflated to raise the collapsed vertebra into its normal position.
When the bone is in its normal position the balloon is then deflated and removed. This creates a cavity, or space, within the vertebral body.
The cavity is filled with a special cement to support the surrounding bone and prevent further collapse. You can think of it as an internal cast.
Generally the procedure is done on both sides of the vertebra to fully support the bone. The procedure usually takes about half of an hour per level.