Vertebroplasty / Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty or Vertebroplasty are both outpatient procedure used to treat painful compression fractures in the spine. In a compression fracture, all or part of a spine bone collapses. The difference between the two procedures is in vertebroplasty, physicians use image guidance to inject a cement mixture into the fractured bone through a hollow needle. In kyphohplasty, a balloon is first inserted into the fractured bone through the hollow needle to create a cavity or space. The cement is injected into the cavity once the balloon is removed. A neurosurgeon can evaluate your particular situation and determine which procedure is appropriate.