If you’ve experienced sudden back pain, especially after a fall or minor strain, you might be dealing with a compression fracture. This type of fracture can severely impact your quality of life, but the good news is that advanced treatments like kyphoplasty can help relieve the pain and restore mobility. 

At St. Charles Spine Institute in Thousand Oaks, California, we treat multiple spinal conditions through various therapies, and kyphoplasty is a relatively common procedure that has yielded life-changing results for many of our spinal patients. Here is a summary of what compression fractures are, how kyphoplasty works, and how this minimally invasive procedure can provide relief if you have suffered a compression fracture.

Understanding Compression Fractures

A spinal compression fracture is when one or more vertebrae in your spine collapses or breaks. These fractures often happen in the middle (thoracic) or lower (lumbar) spine. These fractures occur most frequently in patients with osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more susceptible to fractures. In some cases, trauma or cancer in the spine can also cause vertebrae to weaken, leading to compression fractures.

Typically, when a vertebra collapses, it can cause:

• Sharp or chronic back pain—particularly when standing or walking
• Reduced height caused by the compression of the spine
• Hunched posture, known as kyphosis, which may develop gradually
• Limited mobility, making certain daily activities difficult or even impossible

If left untreated over time, compression fractures can cause long-term complications, including chronic pain, deformity, and decreased lung capacity due to the spine’s curvature. To avoid these complications, it is crucial to seek early diagnosis and treatment.

How Kyphoplasty Works

Kyphoplasty is a surgical procedure that can relieve pain from compression fractures by restoring the height and stability of the fractured vertebra(e). It is typically performed by a spine specialist rather than a general surgeon. Because it is minimally invasive, it is usually an outpatient procedure and has a much shorter recovery period compared to traditional surgeries. 

The kyphoplasty procedure is straightforward:

1. Preparation: The procedure can be done with local anesthetic and light sedation. The patient lies face down on a table while the doctor prepares the area.
2. Insertion of a Balloon Catheter: A small incision is made in the back near the damaged vertebra. Using X-ray guidance, the surgeon inserts a hollow needle in the incision, and a thin tube with a tiny balloon is inserted through the needle into the fractured vertebra. The balloon is then gently inflated to relieve the compression and restore the vertebra’s height.
3. Filling the Space with Bone Cement: Once the vertebra is repositioned, the balloon is removed, and another needle is inserted that fills the cavity with a special bone cement. This cement hardens quickly, stabilizing the vertebra and preventing it from further collapse.
4. Completion: The needle is removed, and the incision is closed.

The kyphoplasty procedure typically lasts about an hour for each vertebra that is treated.

Benefits of Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is highly effective in addressing the core problems caused by compression fractures:

• Pain Relief: By stabilizing the fractured vertebra, kyphoplasty significantly reduces pain, often within a few days of the procedure.
• Restored Vertebral Height: Because the bone cement fills the space expanded by the balloon, it restores the original height of the vertebra and reduces spinal deformity or curvature.
• Improved Mobility: Patients frequently report being able to return to normal daily activities sooner, thanks to the rapid relief from pain and improved spinal stability.
• Minimally Invasive: Unlike traditional spinal surgery, kyphoplasty involves a small incision, minimal tissue damage and displacement, and a quick recovery time.
• Prevention of Future Problems: Stabilizing the vertebra can reduce the risk of alignment problems and other spine complications.

Is Kyphoplasty Right for You?

Compression fractures can be debilitating, but kyphoplasty offers a proven solution for the pain and mobility impairments caused by a spinal compression fracture. If you’re dealing with back pain, request a consultation with our specialists. Contact St. Charles Spine Institute today to schedule an appointment. We will conduct a thorough evaluation, diagnose your issue with an examination and imaging tests, and determine whether kyphoplasty is an appropriate option.