Kyphoplasty

Spine fractures can be very debilitating due to the pain and loss of function that you experience. At Houston Vein and Vascular, we offer kyphoplasty to repair compression fractures of the spine. These compression fractures often occur as a result of trauma, osteoporosis, or cancer. Kyphoplasty may be the procedure you need to eliminate or reduce pain and restore proper function to your spine.

Ablation

If the fracture is caused by a tumor, thermal ablation can be used to eliminate or shrink the tumors. Treatment of bony spine metastasis has been shown to be superior to radiation therapy in achieving pain relief.

How is Balloon Kyphoplasty Performed?

Following administration of anesthesia, a small incision is made over the fractured bone, and a thin, hollow needle is inserted into the bone. A narrow balloon is attached to the tip of the catheter, and introduced into the fractured bone. In most cases, two balloons are used – one on each side of the vertebrae – to support the bone and help it move back into the correct position. After they are inflated, a small space within the fractured vertebral body. Once a small space has been created by the balloon, bone cement injected into this space. Once the cement cools, it hardens and will act as an internal cast inside of the fractured vertebrae, holding it in place and allowing it to heal.

Balloon kyphoplasty typically takes up to 30 mins or so per each treated fracture level.

Ablation

Recovery and Results

Most often, the patients sense complete resolution of their pain or feel that their pain has been alleviated immediately after the procedure. You may resume activity a day after the procedure.

Research has shown that patients who have been treated with kyphoplasty see faster recovery than those who had no treatment, with overall less back pain and greater improvement in function and quality of life. Additionally, because kyphoplasty can restore vertebral height, there is a reduction in kyphosis and other spinal misalignments.