Kyphoplasty

What is kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to repair compression fractures and other fine breaks in a vertebra. Compression fractures can cause significant pain by irritating the nerves that travel through your spine and carry messages throughout your body.

Kyphoplasty is a balloon procedure that creates space in your spine, allowing your physician to apply a bone cement to repair your injury. Kyphoplasty is most effective when your South Lake Pain Institute doctor performs the procedure within two months of your injury.

Don’t suffer in silence. If you experience acute back pain following an accident or other injuries, make an appointment for diagnosis and treatment immediately.

If you have back pain due to a vertebral fracture caused by osteoporosis, tumors, or other conditions that lead to vertebral compression, kyphoplasty may be an effective treatment to restore your spine and prevent complications like shortened or curved spines.

What happens during kyphoplasty?

At South Lake Pain Institute, the doctors perform kyphoplasty with either a local anesthetic like an epidural block or with general anesthesia. Your doctor needs up to two hours to complete the process on each damaged vertebra. Once you’re numb or asleep, your doctor makes an incision in your back to access your spine.

Then using a thin surgical tube, the doctor positions a small balloon in your fractured vertebra. Next, they inflate the balloon and deflate it once sufficient space has been created. After space has been created in your vertebra, your doctor fills it with a cement-like substance that hardens to repair and support your vertebra.

What should I expect during recovery from kyphoplasty?

After your procedure, you rest until your anesthesia wears off. A member of the team at South Lake Pain Institute helps you to get up and walk around, typically within an hour of your surgery. You will need a friend or family member to drive you home.

Your doctor schedules a follow-up appointment to monitor your recovery. You should avoid strenuous physical activity until your doctor clears you to resume your regular activities.

Having some tenderness following kyphoplasty is normal. It should subside within 24-48 hours, and an ice pack can help relieve your discomfort. However, many patients report immediate relief from their back pain.

If you’re living with back pain or have recently sustained a spinal injury, call South Lake Pain Institute or schedule an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and treatment.