Kyphoplasty
A sudden, sharp pain in the middle or lower back after a minor bump, a cough or simply lifting a bag of groceries can mean a spinal bone has cracked and collapsed. These compression fractures are common in people with thinning bones, and they can make sitting, standing and even breathing deeply hurt. At MVM Health, our spine specialists perform kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that steadies the broken bone from the inside with a small balloon and medical-grade bone cement. It takes about an hour, needs only a tiny incision, and most patients feel relief within a day or two.
See a spine and pain specialist at one of our clinics in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Arizona. Recent fractures can often be evaluated quickly.
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At MVM Health — Movement. Vitality. Medicine. — we are committed to providing exceptional pain, vein, and wellness services that empower individuals to reclaim their health and well-being. With our team of Harvard-trained experts, we strive to deliver transformative outcomes that restore comfort, confidence, and quality of life. MVM Health’s mission is to help every patient relieve discomfort, restore motion, and renew life.
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
TARIQ ALFARRA, DO
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL
Rishi Sheth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Carrie Ward, CNP
Franklin University
Kruti Solanki, CNP
Drexel University
Christy Daniels, CNP
Chamberlain University
Heerina Kittel, CNP
Maryville University
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
Rishi Seth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
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What Is Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty, also called balloon kyphoplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs a vertebral compression fracture. A compression fracture happens when the front of a spinal bone (vertebra) cracks and partly collapses, so the bone becomes wedge-shaped instead of a sturdy block.
The broken bone pieces can shift slightly every time you move, which is what causes the deep, sharp pain. Over time, one or more collapsed vertebrae can also make the upper back curve forward, leading to a stooped posture, height loss and pressure on the lungs and stomach.
During kyphoplasty, your physician guides a thin tube into the fractured bone, inflates a small balloon to lift and shape the space, then fills it with fast-setting bone cement. The cement hardens in minutes and acts like an internal cast, stopping the painful movement and helping keep the bone from collapsing further.
Kyphoplasty is most often used for fractures caused by osteoporosis, but it can also help fractures caused by an injury or by cancer that has weakened the spine. It works best when done within weeks to a few months of the fracture, while the bone is still healing. It is closely related to vertebroplasty, which injects cement without the balloon step.
What Happens During Kyphoplasty?
Kyphoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure that takes about 30 to 60 minutes for each treated bone. Here is what to expect.
Preparing and positioning
You lie face down on a padded table. The skin over the fracture is cleaned and numbed, and you receive sedation to keep you comfortable. Some patients have general anesthesia, depending on their health and the number of levels treated.
Reaching the fractured bone
Using live X-ray guidance, your physician makes one or two small nicks in the skin, each less than a centimeter long. A narrow tube is passed through the back of the vertebra and into the collapsed area.
Lifting and filling the bone
A small balloon is placed through the tube and slowly inflated. This lifts the collapsed bone toward its normal height and creates a cavity. The balloon is removed, and the cavity is filled with thick bone cement under close X-ray monitoring.
Recovery and going home
The cement sets within minutes. The tube is removed and the small openings are covered with bandages, usually without stitches. You rest in recovery for an hour or two, and most patients walk and go home the same day with someone driving them.
Common Conditions Kyphoplasty Treats
Osteoporotic compression fractures
The most common reason for kyphoplasty. Thinning bones can crack under everyday stress such as bending, lifting or a minor fall.
Spinal fractures from injury
Car accidents, falls from a height or sports injuries can cause stable compression fractures that may be repaired with cement. See our page on spinal fractures.
Fractures caused by cancer
Tumors such as multiple myeloma or cancer that has spread to the spine can weaken vertebrae. Kyphoplasty can ease pain and support the bone. See our page on spinal tumors.
Steroid-related bone loss
Long-term use of corticosteroids for conditions such as asthma, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can thin the bones and lead to fractures.
Kyphosis from collapsed vertebrae
One or more wedge-shaped fractures can cause a forward-rounded upper back. Treating painful fractures early may help limit the curve. See our page on kyphosis.
Fractures that are not healing
Some fractures stay painful for months because the bone keeps shifting. Kyphoplasty can stabilize these slow-to-heal breaks.
Multiple-level fractures
Patients with more than one painful fracture can often have several levels treated during the same session.
Fractures in patients who cannot tolerate bed rest
For older adults, long periods of rest and strong pain medicine can lead to weakness, blood clots or confusion. Kyphoplasty can help them get moving sooner.
Risk Factors
Compression fractures are more likely if you:
- Are a woman past menopause, when bone density drops faster
- Are over age 65, whether you are a woman or a man
- Have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, or have never had a bone density scan
- Have taken steroid medicines for three months or longer
- Smoke or drink more than two alcoholic drinks a day
- Have a low body weight, a small frame or low calcium and vitamin D levels
- Have had a previous fracture, especially of the spine, hip or wrist
Symptoms
Some compression fractures cause little pain, while others are severe. Common signs include:
- Sudden, sharp pain in the middle or lower back, often after a minor strain, cough or sneeze
- Pain that gets worse when you stand, walk, bend or twist, and eases when you lie on your back
- Tenderness when pressing on one spot along the spine
- Trouble rolling over in bed or getting up from a chair
- Loss of height, or clothes fitting differently because of a rounded upper back
- Pain that wraps around the ribs or sides of the body
- Shortness of breath, feeling full quickly or reduced appetite from a stooped posture
When Pain Needs Urgent Care
Many compression fractures can be evaluated in the office, but some situations need emergency care right away. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if back pain comes with:
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs that is new or getting worse
- Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin or inner thighs
- Severe pain after a car accident, a fall from a height or another major injury
- Fever, chills or feeling very unwell along with new back pain
- A known cancer and sudden back pain that does not let you rest or sleep
- Chest pain or trouble breathing (call 911)
These can be signs of spinal cord pressure, an unstable fracture, infection or another condition that needs immediate treatment.
Book a pain evaluation
Other Treatment Options
Not every compression fracture needs a procedure. Your plan depends on how recent the fracture is, how much pain you have and how stable the bone looks on imaging. Many mild fractures heal with time and support.
Conservative care
Epidural steroid injections
Anti-inflammatory medicine is placed near irritated spinal nerves to ease pain that radiates into an arm or leg, such as from a herniated disc or stenosis.
Facet joint injections and nerve blocks
Medicine is placed in or near the small joints of the spine to ease arthritis pain. A positive response also helps confirm where the pain starts.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Controlled heat quiets the small nerves that carry pain signals from arthritic spine joints. It’s often considered after a successful nerve block.
Spinal cord stimulation
A small device sends mild electrical pulses that change how pain signals reach the brain. It’s used for long-term pain that hasn’t responded to other care, and it starts with a short trial.
PRP and regenerative medicine
Platelets from your own blood may support healing in some joint and soft-tissue conditions. Your provider will tell you whether it’s a reasonable option for you.
Getting the Most From Your Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty steadies the broken bone. These steps help you recover well and protect the rest of your spine.
Callout: Call our office if you have fever, redness or drainage at the incision, new numbness or weakness in the legs, or new sudden back pain at a different spot.
Get up and walk. Most patients are encouraged to walk the same day. Gentle movement helps prevent stiffness, blood clots and muscle loss.
Avoid heavy lifting for about six weeks. Skip lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and avoid bending or twisting hard, unless your provider says otherwise.
Use ice for incision soreness. Mild soreness where the tube entered is normal for a few days. A cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes can help.
Make your home safer. Remove loose rugs, add night lights and use grab bars to lower the chance of a fall.
Treat the bone loss behind the fracture. Ask about a bone density scan and osteoporosis treatment. Protecting your other vertebrae is just as important as fixing this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
The skin is numbed and you receive sedation, so most patients feel only pressure during the procedure. Soreness at the incision for a few days afterward is common and usually mild.
An MRI or bone scan shows whether the fracture is still healing and causing pain. Your specialist also checks where you are tender and how your pain changes with movement.
Not always. Fractures that are still painful and show signs of activity on MRI can often be treated, even several months later. Fully healed fractures usually do not benefit.
Yes. The cement stays in place for life and becomes part of the supported bone. It does not dissolve or need to be removed.
The balloon can restore some of the lost height in the treated bone, especially with recent fractures. It does not fully reverse height already lost from older fractures.
Serious problems are rare. Risks include soreness, bleeding, infection, cement moving outside the bone, nerve irritation and new fractures in nearby vertebrae. Your physician will review these with you.
You cannot drive the day of the procedure because of sedation. Most people can drive again within a few days, once they are off strong pain medicine and can turn comfortably.
Most patients do not need a brace after kyphoplasty. Your provider may suggest one for a short time in some cases, such as multiple fractures.
Medicare and most private plans cover kyphoplasty when it is medically necessary and the fracture is confirmed on imaging. Our team checks your benefits and any prior authorization before scheduling.
People with an active infection, uncontrolled bleeding problems, an allergy to the cement or a fracture that presses on the spinal cord may need a different treatment. Tell your provider about blood thinners in advance.