What Happens in a Kyphoplasty?

Question: What Happens in a Kyphoplasty?

The kyphoplasty is a type of vertebroplasty. In these surgeries, bone cement is injected into the injured vertebra to stabilize and to stop pain.

Answer:

1. Using fluoroscopy, the surgeon inserts a small tube into the vertebral body through the back. This will be the working channel during the procedure
2. A surgical balloon is entered into the tube.
3. The balloon is gently inflated to restore shape and height to the vertebra, and to prepare the inside of the vertebral bone for an injection of bone cement.
4. The balloon is removed.
5. The surgeon fills the working channel in the vertebra with the bone cement, very slowly and methodically.
6. Once the cement hardens, the tube is removed
7. The surgeon closes the incision, usually with one stitch
8. The patient will probably go home that same day.

Bibliography
1 Kyphoplasty. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. July 2005. Retrieved from: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=470&topcategory=Spine January 26, 2006.

2 Kyphoplasty spine surgery animation. Spine-Health Retrieved from: http://www.spine-health.com/dir/kyph.html January 26, 2006.


Date Created: January 26, 2006