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.