Vertebroplasty vs kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures that manage back pain. That’s a very important distinction to make; this is not a cure. It’s simply to provide you with pain relief before a more permanent solution is carried out. Candidates for these procedures are those with a vertebral compression fracture, which is often caused by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurs when your bones lose density and strength, making it easier for them to break. Therefore, it’s important to find out what you can do to prevent osteoporosis.

Let’s look at both these procedures and some of the similarities and differences between them:

Similarities:
Both are minimally invasive
Both require the use of image guidance to to find the affected site
Both use a thin needle to inject a cement solution into the broken vertebra to fix it
Both procedures will have you facing down
Both procedures take about an hour to complete
Pain usually goes away within two to three days
You won’t be able to drive home after the procedure, but someone can drive you home if you live close by. Otherwise, a nearby hotel is advised.
Both are offered by MIMIT Health!

Differences:
In kyphoplasty, a very small balloon is injected into the broken vertebra and inflated so that it can make room for the cement solution