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Ballon Kyphoplasty If you have been diagnosed with a spinal fracture caused by osteoporosis, cancer or benign tumors, balloon kyphoplasty is a treatment option you may want to consider. Balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can significantly reduce back pain and repair the broken bone of a spinal fracture. The procedure is called balloon kyphoplasty because orthopaedic balloons are used to lift the fractured bone and return it to the correct position. Before the procedure, you will have a medical exam and undergo diagnostic studies such as X-rays, to determine the precise location of the fracture. Balloon kyphoplasty can be done under local or general anesthesia—your physician will decide which option is appropriate for you. Balloon kyphoplasty takes about one hour per fracture treated. It can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on medical necessity. After the procedure, you will likely be transferred to the Recovery Room for about an hour for observation.The Balloon Kyphoplasty Procedure:
Using a needle and tube, the spine specialist creates a small pathway into the fractured bone. A small, orthopaedic balloon is guided through the tube into the vertebra. The incision site is approximately 1 cm in length.
The balloon is carefully inflated in an attempt to raise the collapsed vertebra and return it to its normal position. Inflation of the balloon creates a void (cavity) in the vertebral body.
Once the vertebra is in the correct position, the balloon is deflated and removed.
The cavity is filled with bone cement forming an “internal cast” to support the surrounding bone and prevent further collapse.
The Balloon Kyphoplasty procedure typically takes about one hour per fracture and may require an overnight hospital stay. The procedure can be done using either local or general anesthesia; the surgeon will determine the most appropriate method, based on the patient’s overall condition. Generally, the procedure is done on both sides of the vertebral body.
The adult spine is a column of 33 bones that protects the spinal cord and enables us to stand upright. Each bony segment of the spine is referred to as a vertebra (two or more are called vertebrae).
The spine has five regions containing groups of similar bones, listed from top to bottom: 7 cervical vertebrae in the neck, 12 thoracic vertebrae in the mid-back (each attached to a rib), 5 lumbar vertebrae in the lower back, 5 sacral vertebrae fused together to form one bone in the hip region, and 4 coccygeal bones fused together that form our tailbone. At the front of each vertebra is a block of bone called the vertebral body. The vertebral body consists of an inner core of soft cancellous bone, surrounded by a thin outer layer of hard cortical bone. Vertebrae are stacked on top of each other and enable us to sit/stand upright. Vertebrae in the the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions are separated from each other and cushioned by a rubbery soft tissue called the intervertebral disc. Segments of bone that extend outward at the back of each cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebral body surround and protect the spinal cord and its nerve roots. You can feel these bones, known as the posterior spinous processes, when you run your hand along the middle of your back. The vertebral bodies in the thoracic and lumbar regions have the greatest risk for fracture due to osteoporosis. Cancer and benign tumors can lead to fracture of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
The Condition: Spinal Fractures
Spinal fractures can also be caused by cancer, the most common being multiple myeloma, breast, lung and prostate. According to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the majority of patients with multiple myeloma – some 70 to 95% -- have progressive metastatic bone disease particularly in the spine, which increases the risk of fractures. Some spinal fractures may collapse immediately while others collapse over time. Left untreated, one fracture can lead to subsequent fractures, often resulting in a condition called kyphosis, or rounded back. Kyphosis, signified by the dowager’s hump, compresses the chest and abdominal cavity, resulting in serious negative health consequences. Normal Vertebra: Balloon Kyphoplasty Outcomes Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive, orthopaedic treatment that stabilizes spinal fractures, thereby reducing pain and correcting vertebral deformity. Studies report the following benefits: • Correction of vertebral body deformity • Significant reduction in back pain • Significant improvement in quality of life • Significant improvement in mobility, including the ability to perform daily activities such as walking, hobbies and work • Significant reduction in the number of days per month that a patient remains in bed • Low complication rate (<1%) In most cases, Medicare provides coverage for Balloon Kyphoplasty. Other insurance plans often also cover the procedure. Although the complication rate with KYPHON® Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical procedures, there are risks associated with the procedure, including serious complications. This procedure is not for everyone. A prescription is required. Please consult your physician for a full discussion of risks and whether this procedure is right for you. Since its founding in 1994, Kyphon has been dedicated to improving patient quality of life by revolutionizing the practice of medicine. A recognized global leader in restoring spinal function with minimally invasive therapies, Kyphon maintains its commitment to ongoing research, innovative product development and advanced professional and patient education. Kyphon was acquired by Medtronic, Inc. in November 2007 and is now part of Medtronic’s Spinal and Biologics business. For more information on Balloon Kyphoplasty, go to www.kyphon.com.
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Anatomy
Osteoporosis causes more than 700,000 spinal fractures each year in the 
