KYPHOPLASTY
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating compression fractures of the vertebral bodies of the spine. The physician uses image guidance to introduce a hollow needle through the skin and into the affected vertebrae. A balloon is then introduced through the needle and is inflated to create space for a cement mixture to be injected that will stabilize the fractured bone and therefore decrease pain to the patient. This is an outpatient procedure and is performed at the hospital under IV sedation and local anesthetic.