Thoracic Spine
Kyphoplasty
Percutaneous cement stabilization of a painful vertebral compression fracture. Most patients feel meaningful relief within hours.
What it is
Kyphoplasty stabilizes a fractured vertebra by inflating a small balloon inside the bone to restore some of its lost height, then filling the cavity with medical-grade cement. The cement hardens within minutes, locking the fracture in place.
The procedure is done percutaneously — through two small skin punctures — under image guidance. There is no incision in the traditional sense, no internal hardware, and no fusion.
Why this procedure when surgery is needed
Vertebral compression fractures — most commonly from osteoporosis, occasionally from cancer or trauma — can cause severe, position-dependent back pain that resists conservative care. For appropriately selected patients with persistent pain after a few weeks, kyphoplasty provides immediate, often dramatic relief.
Stabilizing the fracture early also helps prevent the loss of height and forward stooping that can follow a chain of untreated compression fractures.
What to expect
Outpatient procedure, typically 30–45 minutes.
Done under sedation or general anesthesia, depending on patient.
Most patients feel meaningful relief within hours.
Return to normal activity within days.
Bone-health workup is essential — kyphoplasty treats the fracture; it does not treat the underlying osteoporosis.
Risks and how we reduce them
Kyphoplasty is a low-impact percutaneous procedure with a strong safety record, but injecting cement into fractured bone carries a few specific risks worth understanding.
Expected, temporary effects
Soreness at the needle sites. Mild soreness where the needles entered the back, usually resolving within a few days.
Brief increase in discomfort. Some patients notice a short-lived increase in back discomfort the day of the procedure before the relief settles in.
Serious risks
Cement leakage. Cement can leak outside the vertebra. Most leaks cause no symptoms, but rarely cement can reach a vein or press on a nerve. Live imaging is used throughout to monitor cement flow and reduce this risk.
Adjacent-level fracture. A new compression fracture can occur at a neighboring vertebra. This is driven mainly by the underlying osteoporosis, which is why a bone-health workup is an essential part of treatment — kyphoplasty treats the fracture, not the bone disease.
Cement embolism. Cement entering the bloodstream and traveling to the lungs is rare but recognized, and is minimized by injecting under live imaging.
Infection. Infection at the site is uncommon and is reduced with sterile technique.
Your recovery, phase by phase
A general timeline for this procedure. Your surgeon’s own protocol takes precedence — use this to know what to expect and what questions to ask at each visit.
Before the procedure
- Bring a complete list of your medications and supplements to your pre-procedure visit. Blood thinners, NSAIDs, GLP-1 medications, and some supplements are held on a schedule the team sets for you.
- Kyphoplasty is done through two small skin punctures under sedation or general anesthesia. If you will be sedated or asleep, you stop eating after midnight and the team sets your clear-liquid cutoff.
- Arrange a ride home — this is a same-day, outpatient procedure and you cannot drive yourself afterward.
- Bone-density testing and bone-health treatment are arranged around the procedure — kyphoplasty stabilizes the fracture but does not treat the osteoporosis behind it.
The day of the procedure
- You check in as an outpatient, have an IV placed, and meet the procedure and anesthesia team.
- The procedure usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. A small balloon restores some of the fractured vertebra’s lost height, and medical-grade cement is injected under live imaging; the cement hardens within minutes.
- There is no traditional incision, no internal hardware, and no fusion — access is through two small punctures in the skin of the back.
- Your family waits nearby; the team updates them once the procedure is finished.
In the recovery area
- You recover in the post-procedure area while any sedation wears off. Many patients notice meaningful relief within hours.
- The team has you get up and move before discharge to confirm you are steady on your feet.
- Most patients go home the same day, once they are awake, comfortable, and moving safely.
The first two weeks
- Soreness at the needle-puncture sites is normal for a few days and settles on its own.
- Most patients return to normal daily activity within days — there is no incision or fusion to protect — but avoid heavy lifting until your team clears you.
- Keep the puncture sites clean and dry and follow your team’s guidance on showering.
Weeks 2 to 6
- Activity generally returns to baseline. A follow-up visit checks the puncture sites and how your pain has responded.
- This is the window to start or continue bone-health treatment — the most important step to lower the risk of another fracture.
Long-term recovery
- Kyphoplasty stabilizes the treated fracture, but the underlying osteoporosis remains — ongoing bone-health care and fall prevention protect the rest of your spine.
- A new compression fracture can occur at a neighboring vertebra; call the office if you develop new, sudden, position-dependent back pain.
Milestone checkpoints
| Window | Milestone | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Post-op days 1-3 | Pain relief and getting moving | Many patients feel meaningful relief within hours and return to normal daily activity within days. There is no fusion and no large incision to protect. |
| Post-op days 1-3 | Puncture-site care | The procedure is done through two small skin punctures rather than an incision. Keep the sites clean and dry, and follow your team's guidance on showering. |
| Checkpoint | Driving | Resume once you are off any sedating medication from the procedure and feel safe to operate the vehicle. Confirm timing with your surgeon. |
| Checkpoint | Return to work | Many patients return to work within a few days depending on the job. Your surgeon clears the timeline that fits your recovery and your work. |
| Surgeon-directed | Bracing | If you were using a back brace for the compression fracture, follow your surgeon's guidance on whether to continue or stop it after the procedure. |
| Week 2 | Bone-health follow-up | Kyphoplasty stabilizes the fracture but does not treat the osteoporosis behind it. Arranging bone-density testing and bone-health treatment is an essential next step to lower the risk of future fractures. |
| Any time | When to call | Call the office for fever, drainage or spreading redness at a puncture site, or new or worsening back pain. New leg weakness or numbness, or any loss of bowel or bladder control, is an emergency — call 911. The clinic phone line is not an emergency line. |
Prepare and recover
Handouts that fit this surgery. These are being finalized in physician review — visit the patient education library to see what is available, and always follow your own surgeon's specific protocol.
Prepare for this surgery
Recover from this surgery
Approach
- Bilateral percutaneous transpedicular access
- Fluoroscopic guidance throughout
- Balloon inflation to restore vertebral height where possible
- PMMA cement injection under live imaging
- Same-day discharge in most cases
Typical indications
- Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with persistent significant pain
- Pathologic fracture from cancer (in coordination with oncology)
- Fractures unresponsive to several weeks of conservative care
- Progressive height loss or kyphosis from a chain of fractures
Alternatives we considered
- Conservative care: brace, pain control, time (4–6 weeks; many fractures heal)
- Vertebroplasty — cement without balloon (less commonly used today)
- Surgical stabilization for fractures with neurologic compromise
- Bone-health-only management for asymptomatic chronic fractures
Medical review in progress. Author: practice editorial team.
The information on this page is general patient education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. For urgent symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For non-urgent questions, call (785) 368-0767 during clinic hours.
Not sure whether a symptom needs a call? When to call after surgery