A compression fracture is a broken vertebral bone in your spine. It happens when your vertebrae get too weak to support normal weight and pressure; the bone collapses, and your spine gets shorter.
Compression fractures can cause severe back pain, loss of height, and reduced mobility. And while they can develop due to trauma or cancer, the most common cause is osteoporosis.
May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, and our team at Interventional Spine and Pain Institute is taking this opportunity to highlight this common complication of osteoporosis and how treatment can help you regain mobility and comfort.
Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are minimally invasive procedures that can provide dramatic pain relief for compression fractures. They work slightly differently, so here’s what you need to know.
Vertebroplasty is the original cement augmentation procedure for compression fractures. It involves using imaging guidance to insert a hollow needle through your skin directly into the fractured vertebra. Your surgeon then injects bone cement through the needle into the collapsed bone.
The cement fills spaces within the fractured vertebra and hardens within minutes, stabilizing the fracture and providing structural support. The procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
The primary goal of vertebroplasty is pain relief through fracture stabilization, and it can be very effective because the cement eliminates painful movement within the fractured bone. The procedure doesn't restore vertebral height, because your collapsed bone remains compressed, but the stabilization alone often provides significant pain relief.
Kyphoplasty is very similar to vertebroplasty, but it adds an important step. Your surgeon inserts a needle into the fractured vertebra, just like with vertebroplasty. But before injecting cement, they insert a small balloon through the needle into the collapsed bone.
They carefully inflate the balloon, which creates a cavity inside the damaged vertebra and restores some of the lost height as it pushes the collapsed bone back toward its original position. Then, they deflate and remove the balloon and fill the cavity with bone cement, which hardens and maintains the restored height while stabilizing the fracture.
Kyphoplasty offers two potential benefits: pain relief through stabilization, just like vertebroplasty, and partial restoration of vertebral height and spinal alignment. The height restoration can improve your posture, potentially reduce forward curvature of your spine, and may provide additional pain relief by reducing stress on surrounding structures.
We perform both procedures on an outpatient basis, which means you can go home the same day or after a short overnight stay. They have similar recovery timelines, and most people return to their normal activities within a few days.
The main differences lie in vertebral height restoration and cement placement control. Kyphoplasty's balloon step creates a controlled cavity for cement, potentially reducing the small risk of cement leaking outside the vertebra. It also restores some vertebral height, which may be particularly beneficial if you have multiple fractures or significant spinal curvature.
Vertebroplasty is often quicker and may be preferred when height restoration isn't a primary concern or when the fracture pattern makes balloon placement difficult. Some studies suggest both procedures provide similar pain relief, with the height restoration being kyphoplasty's distinguishing advantage.
When it comes to treating compression fractures, the best choice depends on your unique situation. We offer both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty at Interventional Spine and Pain Institute, so we can help you weigh the pros and cons of each.
We consider multiple factors, including the type of fracture you have, how old it is, the degree of vertebral collapse, your overall spinal alignment, your general health, and your specific treatment goals.
Fresh fractures often respond well to either procedure, while older fractures that have gone untreated longer may have different considerations. Severe collapse with significant height loss may benefit more from kyphoplasty. And if you have multiple fractures causing progressive spinal curvature, the height restoration from kyphoplasty might provide additional benefits beyond pain relief.
We walk you through a detailed explanation of what each procedure offers in your particular case, and we discuss realistic expectations for pain relief and functional improvement. We’re ready to answer all your questions so you can make an informed decision about your care.
This Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, don't let compression fractures steal your mobility and quality of life. Contact us in Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Vero Beach, Florida, to learn more about your treatment options and start the journey toward real relief.
