Interventional Radiology->Kyphoplasty/Vertebroplasty

Kyphoplasty/Vertebroplasty

This is 1 of 3 pictures taken during a kyphoplasty. This is an AP image with bone trocars in place. These bone needles are placed under xray into the broken vertebral body. The balloons are then inflated which elevates the body back into a more normal configuration and then the balloons are removed. The cement is then put into the vertebral bodies. This stabilizes the tiny fracture fragments and in this way gets rid of pain.

Kyphoplasty with the bone needles in place
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This is the 2nd of 3 pictures taken during a kyphoplasty. This is a side (or lateral) view.

A side view of the procedure
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This is the 3rd of 3 pictures taken during a kyphoplasty. This is an frontal view of the completed procedure with cement in the two vertebral levels.

A frontal view of the completed kyphoplasty
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Kyphoplasty/Vertebroplasty are minimally invasive procedures for vertebral compression fractures. This occurs when the usual rectangular shape of the bone becomes compressed and distorted, causing pain. This may be due to osteoporosis, trauma or in bones weakened from cancer. This procedures eliminates or significantly improves the patient’s back pain shortly after the procedure.

In both procedures the patient is placed on their stomach. They receive sedation and pain medication to ensure comfort during the procedure. Bone needles are placed into the broken vertebral body through the back under x-ray. In kyphoplasty two balloons are placed through the needle. These push the bone back up resembling its original shape and creates space for a special cement to be injected to stabilize the fracture. In vertebroplasty no balloons are used and the same cement is instilled through the needle.

Preparation for Procedure

  • Bring a list of all medications
  • Inform your physician of any recent illness
  • You may be asked to remove some or all of your clothes and to wear a gown during the exam. You may also be asked to remove jewelry, dentures, eye glasses and any metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the x-ray images.
  • Women should always inform the radiology staff if there is a possibility that they are pregnant.
  • If you are going to be given sedation, you must not have anything to eat or drink anything for six hours before your exam and must have someone that will drive you home from the procedure.
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