Kyphoplasty to Treat Compression Fractures

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Surgeons use it to treat vertebral compression fractures — small cracks in the bones of your spine.

A surgeon does a kyphoplasty by placing a balloon into your fractured vertebrae. The surgeon inflates it to create space and restore bone height. After removing the balloon, they inject bone cement into the space. The bone cement prevents the bone from collapsing again and causing pain.

The experts at UPMC use the latest minimally invasive kyphoplasty techniques to restore quality of life after a compression fracture.

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What Is Kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive outpatient surgery procedure to treat compression fractures.

Compression fractures are small cracks in the vertebrae (spinal bones) that occur after injury. They can also develop due to osteoporosis or tumors that weaken the bones. Compression fractures can lead to decreased height and stooped-over posture called a dowager's hump or kyphosis.

The procedure has high success rates for:

• Improving mobility and quality of life.
• Preventing kyphosis.
• Reducing or eliminating the need for pain medicine.
• Restoring lost height due to compression of the spine.
• Stabilizing the bone to prevent it from collapsing again.
• Stopping pain caused by compression fractures.

Is kyphoplasty considered major surgery?

Because kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure involving only a small cut or puncture in your skin, it is not considered major surgery.

Conditions we treat with kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty treats spinal compression fractures.

Fractures can happen when you have:

• An injury to the spine.
• Multiple myeloma (a blood cancer).
• Osteoporosis (weakening of your bones).
• Spinal tumors.

Why Would I Need Kyphoplasty?

Doctors might suggest kyphoplasty if you have compression fractures and:

• Are elderly or frail, causing your bones to heal slowly after fractures.
• Can’t perform everyday activities or move well because of your fracture.
• Have a spine injury that caused broken bones.
• Have a type of cancer that damages the bone.
• Have severe pain that hasn't gotten better with rest, bracing, physical therapy, or medicine.

Who is a candidate for kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is not the solution for all back pain. Doctors do not use this treatment for conditions like herniated discs or arthritis pain. They also don't use it to treat younger people in most cases.

If you have severe back pain due to a compression fracture that isn't getting better with nonsurgical care, you may be a candidate for kyphoplasty.

Alternatives to kyphoplasty

Alternatives to kyphoplasty include nonsurgical treatments, such as:

• Bracing.
• Ice and heat therapy.
• Medicines to manage pain.
• Physical therapy.
• Rest.

What Are the Risks and Complications of Kyphoplasty?

All surgeries come with risks. Though kyphoplasty is safe, there are a few possible complications.

Possible complications include:

• Bleeding and infection at the incision site.
• Nerve damage.
• No improvement in symptoms.
• Problems with anesthesia.
• The need for future surgery.

What are the side effects of kyphoplasty?

Bone cement can leak from the cavity into the area around the bone, causing pain. If the cement gets somewhere dangerous, like near the spinal canal, you may need surgery to correct it. However, small amounts of cement leaking often won't cause serious problems.

What Should I Expect From Kyphoplasty?

Before: How to prepare for kyphoplasty

Before surgery, you will meet with your surgical team and have a physical exam.

Your surgical team may order tests, such as:

• Blood or urine tests — Your doctor may order blood work and urine studies to ensure you are healthy enough for surgery and check for signs of illness or infection.
• CT scan — A computed tomography (CT) scan creates images of the bones and structures in your spine.
• MRI — MRI combines large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within your body.
• X-ray — Your doctor may order an x-ray to learn more about the bones in your spine.

Your doctor will explain the kyphoplasty procedure to you and answer your questions.

To prepare for the procedure, you should:

• Fast for a certain length of time before the procedure if you are receiving general anesthesia. Your doctor will tell you how long to fast (usually overnight) if required.
• Take any tests that your doctor requires. For example, your doctor may request a blood test before the procedure to determine how long it takes your blood to clot.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines (prescription and over-the-counter) and herbal or other supplements you are taking.
• Tell your doctor if you are sensitive or allergic to medicines, iodine, latex, tape, or anesthetic agents (local and general).
• Tell your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any blood-thinning medicines, like aspirin. You may need to stop some of the medicines before the procedure.
• Tell your doctor if you have any other health issues. Your care team may need to take certain precautions during surgery for your safety.

On the day of your procedure, bring your photo ID and health insurance card(s). Leave valuables such as cash and jewelry at home.

Kyphoplasty is an outpatient procedure. Your care team will discharge you on the same day as your surgery. You should also arrange for someone to drive you home after they discharge you.

How long does kyphoplasty take?

Kyphoplasty takes about an hour. It may take longer if your surgeon needs to treat more than one part of your spine.

During your kyphoplasty

Before your procedure, you'll get either general anesthesia to put you to sleep or a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area.

With a local anesthetic, you'll be awake but won't feel any pain. You may also get an IV with a sedative to help you relax.

During kyphoplasty, you'll lie face down, and your surgeon will:

• Make a small incision or puncture near your fracture.
• Insert a thin tube into the fractured part of your vertebrae.
• Place a special balloon into the tube and inflate it to create a small space cavity.
• Deflate and remove the balloon.
• Use a low-pressure injection to insert bone cement into the cavity.
• The bone cement hardens quickly, stabilizing your bone.

Recovery after kyphoplasty

After your procedure, your care team will move you into a recovery area before they discharge you. You'll likely feel sore at your incision site for a few days. Using an ice pack can help.

After kyphoplasty, most people can:

• Go home the same day — Your doctor will advise you to rest in bed for about 24 hours.
• Walk within an hour of the procedure.
• Slowly return to normal activity after the first 24 hours.

You should avoid doing anything strenuous for about six weeks. Your doctor will explain what you can and cannot do.

Most people do not need to have physical therapy or rehabilitation after kyphoplasty. If osteoporosis caused your compression fracture, your doctor might put you on medicine to strengthen your bones and prevent future fractures.

When to call your doctor about post-op problems

You should let your doctor know if you have:

• A fever of more than 100.0°F.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Difficulty swallowing, throat pain, or bloody cough.
• New or increasing shortness of breath.
• Pain, redness, bleeding, drainage, or increased swelling at your treatment site.
• Severe back pain that doesn’t respond to medicines.
• Unexplained numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in your body.

What’s the prognosis after kyphoplasty?

After kyphoplasty, many people report feeling less back pain right away. Others notice a difference after a few days.

What’s the success rate of kyphoplasty?

Research shows that over 90% of people report pain relief after kyphoplasty.

The procedure is also highly effective for:

• Giving you a better quality of life.
• Improving your mobility.
• Reducing your need for pain medicine.

Why Choose UPMC for Kyphoplasty?

At UPMC, the surgeons on our spine care team are experts at performing kyphoplasty. They use the latest tools and techniques. Our team also provides total spine care for people with osteoporosis. Our goal is to prevent future spine fractures and improve overall health.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-06-26.