Balloon Kyphoplasty

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) have traditionally been treated with bed rest, medication and bracing, all of which help to decrease a patient’s pain but do not address the spinal deformity. Surgery can address the deformity but is typically reserved for cases of major neurologic deficit and mechanical instability.

Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive option that addresses both the deformity and the pain by stabilizing the fracture and helping to correct the vertebral body deformity. Physicians report significant improvements at short- and long-term follow-up in patients treated with Balloon Kyphoplasty, including:
• correction of vertebral body deformity
• significant reduction in pain
• improvement in quality of life
• improvement in ability to perform activities of daily living
• low complication rate

How the Balloon Works

Step 1: Balloon insertion Through a 1-cm incision, a working cannula is placed through the pedicle, and an orthopaedic balloon is guided into the fractured vertebral body.   Step 2: Full inflation The balloon is inflated, reducing the fracture and elevating the superior endplate. In an attempt to achieve an “en massee” fracture reduction, the approach is bilateral, using two balloons.   Step 3: Void within vertebral body Once the fracture has been reduced, the balloons are deflated and removed. Inflation and deflation of the balloons creates a void, which serves as a repository for the bone cement. The void is then filled with KyphX® HV-R™ Bone Cement under low, manual pressure.   Step 4: Cement fill The procedure typically takes less than one hour per fracture treated and may require a brief hospital stay. After the procedure, the patient should return to the osteoporosis-treating physician for medical management and follow-up.

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