Minimally Invasive Kyphoplasty
What is Minimally Invasive Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgery designed to relieve pain and stabilize vertebral compression fractures, while also restoring spinal height and alignment. Like vertebroplasty, it involves injecting medical-grade bone cement into a collapsed vertebra, where it quickly hardens and strengthens the bone. The key difference is that kyphoplasty uses a small balloon that is inserted and inflated inside the fractured vertebra before the cement is injected. This creates a cavity and can partially restore lost vertebral height, improving posture and spinal alignment in addition to relieving pain.
Who is a good candidate for Minimally Invasive Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty is most effective for patients with recent vertebral compression fractures confirmed by imaging, such as MRI or CT that correlate with significant, localized back pain. It is particularly useful when the fracture has led to loss of vertebral height or deformity, since the balloon can restore alignment before the cement is placed. Patients with osteoporosis are the most common candidates, although kyphoplasty may also be used for some patients with traumatic or cancer-related fractures. The procedure is generally not recommended for fractures that are old and healed, or in patients whose pain is not clearly caused by the fracture.
How is Minimally Invasive Kyphoplasty performed?
The procedure is performed under conscious sedation or general anesthesia, with the patient positioned face-down on a specialized table. Using real-time X-ray guidance, the surgeon advances a narrow needle into the fractured vertebra through a small incision. A balloon is then inserted through the needle and gently inflated, which creates a cavity and may restore some of the vertebral body’s height. Once the balloon is removed, bone cement is injected into the cavity, where it hardens quickly and stabilizes the bone. The incision is closed with a small dressing. Surgery typically takes less than an hour per vertebra.
What are the benefits of Minimally Invasive Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty can provide rapid pain relief and allow patients to resume daily activities much sooner than with non-surgical treatment. In addition to stabilizing the fracture, the balloon step can restore vertebral height and correct spinal deformity, which may improve posture, alignment, and overall spinal mechanics. The minimally invasive approach means that incisions are small, muscle disruption is limited, and hospital stays are short, with most patients going home the same day.
What is the recovery from Minimally Invasive Kyphoplasty?
Many patients notice pain relief within hours to days and are encouraged to walk within a few hours of surgery. Light activity is typically safe soon afterward, although heavy lifting and strenuous exercise should be avoided for several weeks. As with any spine procedure, there are potential complications to consider. Cement leakage is possible, though it is less common with kyphoplasty than with vertebroplasty since the cement is injected into a balloon-created cavity. Other uncommon risks include infection, bleeding, or reaction to anesthesia or cement. Some patients may not experience complete relief, and adjacent vertebrae may be at risk for new fractures over time. Patients are often advised to undergo treatment for osteoporosis, along with diet and lifestyle changes to improve bone health and reduce the risk of future fractures.
Other common minimally invasive spine procedures
Discectomy: This procedure removes a damaged spinal disc or discs to treat pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs or arms, most commonly from a herniated disc.
Spinal Decompression: This procedure relieves pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, often caused by conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
Spinal Fusion: This minimally invasive spine surgery is used to stabilize the spine by fusing vertebrae together. Screws and a rod are placed through a small incision during the procedure.