Balloon Kyphoplasty™

Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients suffering from spinal fractures due to osteoporosis or cancer.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 700,000 patients will suffer from spinal fractures due to osteoporosis each year. Unfortunately, over 400,000 of these fractures go undiagnosed and untreated due in part to lack of awareness about osteoporosis and available treatment options.

The consequences of untreated fractures can be devastating. Once a patient suffers one vertebral compression fracture, the risk of suffering a second fracture increases five-fold. Left unattended, many fractures can result in an exaggerated rounded curvature of the spine, called kyphosis or dowager’s hump. This condition is painful and debilitating — making walking, eating, sleeping, and even breathing painful and difficult. Long-term, this condition could be fatal. Diagnosing such fractures is the first step toward providing patients hope with appropriate treatment.

Balloon Kyphoplasty is designed to repair vertebral compression fractures and restore the vertebrae to the correct position - reducing back pain and the number of days in bed, thus significantly improving mobility and increasing overall quality of life. The procedure generally takes less than one hour per fracture and has been performed under both local and general anesthesia.