Kyphoplasty & Vertebroplasty
Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are minimally invasive, cement-delivery spinal procedures performed to treat painful vertebral compression fractures, most commonly caused by osteoporosis or bone tumours. In vertebroplasty, bone cement is injected directly into the fractured vertebra. In kyphoplasty, a specialized balloon is first inflated inside the bone to restore the collapsed height and create a cavity before the cement is injected under low pressure.
When this procedure may be recommended
- Painful, osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures that have failed to improve with conservative care.
- Pathological vertebral fractures secondary to metastatic cancer or multiple myeloma.
- Sudden onset of severe spinal pain associated with a radiographically confirmed acute compression fracture.
Who may be a candidate
Candidates are patients with acute or subacute compression fractures (typically under 3 to 4 months old) with active bone swelling (oedema) confirmed on MRI, who suffer from debilitating pain. Patients with old, completely healed fractures, severe spinal canal narrowing, or active spinal infections are not candidates.
Advanced medical implant technology (no text). Alternatives to surgery
- Conservative medical management including pain relief, bracing, and early mobility.
- Osteoporosis medical treatments (bisphosphonates, denosumab) to strengthen bones.
- Open surgical stabilization (reserved for unstable fractures or neurological compromise).
What to expect
- Anaesthesia: Performed under local anaesthesia with conscious sedation or general anaesthesia as day surgery.
- Needle Access: Guided by real-time X-ray (fluoroscopy), a hollow needle (trocar) is passed through a keyhole incision in the back into the fractured vertebra.
- Height Restoration (Kyphoplasty): A specialized balloon is inserted and inflated under pressure to restore the collapsed bone height, then deflated and removed.
- Cement Injection: Highly biocompatible polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is injected into the cavity under low pressure.
- Setting: The cement hardens in approximately 10 to 15 minutes, permanently stabilizing the bone.
- Closure: Needles are removed and keyhole incisions are covered with small adhesive dressings.
Technology and imaging
Utilizes high-resolution biplane fluoroscopy and specialized cavity-creating bone balloons.
High-precision diagnostic imaging visualization. 
Clinical Zeiss/Leica operating microscope setup. Hospital stay
Usually performed as a day procedure, enabling patients to return home the same day.
Recovery milestones
- Immediate: Patients rest flat for 1 to 2 hours after cement hardening, then mobilise under guidance.
- Days 1-7: Fast pain relief is achieved, allowing patients to taper down strong pain medications and resume normal walking.
- Weeks 2+: Gradual return to full activities with physical therapy. Bone density management is vital to prevent future fractures.
Post-operative mobilization and recovery milestones. Risks and complications
- Cement leakage outside the vertebra (may compress nerves, extremely rare with kyphoplasty cavity creation, under 1-2%).
- Infection or bleeding at the needle track.
- Increased risk of subsequent fractures in adjacent weakened vertebrae.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly does pain resolve after kyphoplasty?
Pain relief is exceptionally rapid, with the majority of patients experiencing a dramatic reduction in severe fracture pain within 24 to 48 hours of the procedure.