Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)

Kyphoplasty, also known as Balloon Vertebroplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure designed to relieve pain and stabilize spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis, trauma, or certain cancers. Using a small balloon and medical-grade cement, the procedure restores height to the collapsed vertebra and strengthens the bone, helping patients experience rapid pain relief, improved mobility, and a return to normal activities with minimal downtime.

Quick Facts

  • Setting: Outpatient, image-guided
  • Time: ~45–60 minutes
  • Anesthesia: Local with sedation or general anesthesia
  • Recovery: Same-day discharge; resume light activity in 1–2 days
  • Duration of relief: Long-lasting; pain improvement is often immediate

Who It Helps

  • Painful vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) from osteoporosis
  • Spinal fractures caused by trauma or cancer (metastatic lesions)
  • Patients with severe, persistent back pain unrelieved by medication or bracing
  • Individuals at risk for progressive spinal deformity from vertebral collapse

How It Works

A vertebral compression fracture occurs when a bone in the spine weakens and collapses, often causing intense back pain and height loss. During a kyphoplasty, your provider uses fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance to insert a small tube into the fractured vertebra. A balloon is then carefully inflated to restore height and create a cavity inside the bone. Once the balloon is removed, this space is filled with bone cement, stabilizing the fracture and preventing further collapse.

What To Expect

  • Before: Your provider will review imaging to confirm that a fracture is suitable for kyphoplasty. You may need to stop certain medications before the procedure.
  • During: You’ll lie face down while the skin is numbed. Using imaging guidance, the provider advances a small needle into the affected vertebra, inflates a balloon to create space, and injects bone cement to stabilize the bone.
  • After: You’ll rest briefly in recovery and can typically go home the same day. Most patients notice immediate or rapid pain relief and can resume light activities within 24–48 hours.

Benefits & Risks

Benefits:

  • Rapid and often dramatic pain relief
  • Stabilizes the fractured vertebra and prevents further collapse
  • Can restore vertebral height and spinal alignment
  • Improves mobility and quality of life

Risks:

  • Leakage of bone cement (rare and minimized with imaging)
  • Infection or bleeding
  • Temporary soreness at the puncture site
  • Rare adjacent-level fractures

Is It Right For Me? (Checklist)

  • ✅ Diagnosed vertebral compression fracture causing significant pain
  • ✅ Pain not relieved by rest, medication, or bracing
  • ✅ Suitable imaging showing fracture location and age
  • ✅ Able to undergo a minimally invasive outpatient procedure

Alternatives At PCET

FAQs

  • When will I feel relief? Many patients experience pain relief within hours of the procedure.
  • Will I regain height? Some restoration of vertebral height and posture is common, though it varies by fracture severity.
  • How long does the cement last? The bone cement hardens within minutes and provides permanent stabilization.
  • Can fractures return? The treated vertebra is stabilized, but other weak vertebrae may remain at risk without addressing osteoporosis.
  • Is it covered by insurance? Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover kyphoplasty when medically indicated.

What Happens Next?

After Kyphoplasty or Balloon Vertebroplasty, your provider will review how your pain responds and whether you notice improvement in movement, comfort, or daily activities.

If you experience meaningful relief, your provider may discuss follow-up care, activity guidance, physical therapy, or functional rehabilitation to help support your recovery.

If you do not get the relief you were hoping for, that does not mean you are out of options. Your provider may reassess whether another fracture, spinal condition, or pain source may be contributing to your symptoms.

Possible next steps may include:

  • Reviewing your symptoms and imaging again
  • Evaluating other possible pain sources
  • Additional diagnostic testing when appropriate
  • Physical therapy or functional rehabilitation
  • Other treatment options available through PCET

The goal is to support your recovery, better understand your pain, and determine the next best step for your care.

📞 Call to Schedule

If you’re experiencing severe back pain from a spinal fracture, kyphoplasty may offer rapid relief and lasting stability. Call (865) 579-0552 to schedule your appointment today.