Kyphoplasty for compression fractures of thoracic spine

When particular patients are assessed after a spinal fracture and meet certain guidelines, their physician may recommend a procedure called kyphoplasty. These patients usually have a pathologic fracture or a fracture due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis weakens the bone and makes the simplest fall or cough a major problem.

The goal of this procedure is to help relieve pain from the spine due to fracture and to stabilize the spine as well. The other goal is to return loss of height to the vertebral body.

The exam is usually done in a Special Procedures lab or an OR setting. The physician will insert a balloon into the vertebrae and inject a special filler that is a hard cement like material that expands. This assists with the bone height loss due to the compression fracture. After the procedure is over many patients immediately feel relief. To document the placement a CT scan is done post procedure. I've attached some images of a pre kyphoplasty patient with a t12 compression fracture and then the same patient's post exam.

Burst Fractures

Burst fractures most often occur in the thoracolumbar spine, around T-11 through L2. Burst fractures are usually the result of some sort of trauma to the spine such as a motor vehicle accident or fall. These fractures can occur in patients of any age. Treatment does vary for these injuries. Neurosurgeons will evaluate images from CT and MRI. If the patient is not paralyzed and has no significant canal compromise then normally a brace is in order for the patient. The physician will monitor healing by obtaining lateral radiographs of the fracture sight to document healing. If patient has paralysis that is not resolving with canal compromise, then surgery to decompress the stenosis will need to be performed. I have attached some CT images demonstrating this deformity.