kyphoplasty (balloon kyphoplasty)

Introduction

Also see vertebroplasty.

Indications

• painful vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis
  • useful with loss of vertebral height*

* of questionalble value but likely of no harm

Advantages

• restores vertebral height

Procedure

• a trocar is inserted through the vertebral pedicle & into the marrow of the vertebral body under fluoroscopic guidance as in vertebroplasty
• a balloon is inflated inside the compressed vertebral body to restore vertebral height
• polymethylmethacrylate cement is injected into the vertebral body where it hardens

More general terms

• vertebral augmentation

More specific terms

• sacroplasty; sacral augmentation

Additional terms

• vertebroplasty