VERTEBRA SPINE CARE
Spine surgery, visualized from the inside
This is how surgeons anchor an unstable spine: screws seated in the vertebrae, rods locking the segment. Kyphoplasty, the fracture repair below, needs no hardware at all. Scroll to watch it from inside the bone.
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A wedge compression fracture. Fracture lines run through the inner cancellous bone while the outer shell holds. Osteoporosis is the usual cause.
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A rigid hollow cannula advances through the pedicle into the center of the vertebral body, guided by continuous X-ray. No open incision beyond a few millimeters.
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Controlled bone augmentation gently displaces the inner cancellous bone, opening a defined cavity in the fractured area and helping restore lost height.
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Radiopaque bone cement flows through the cannula, filling the cavity from the center outward and knitting into the surrounding bone.
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The cement cures within minutes into an internal support. Most patients are walking the same day.
Is kyphoplasty right for you?
Kyphoplasty treats vertebral compression fractures, the small breaks in the spine that osteoporosis makes common after 60. When bracing and medication leave you in pain, restoring the bone itself is the next step.
Recovery
During
The procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes per vertebra, under local or general anesthesia. No open surgery, no hardware.
Same day
Most patients go home the day of the procedure and are encouraged to walk. The cement is fully hardened before you leave.
First weeks
Normal light activity resumes quickly. Your physician will pair the repair with a bone-health plan to protect the rest of the spine.
Questions
Kyphoplasty is performed under local or general anesthesia, so you should feel pressure at most during the procedure. Soreness at the small incision site usually settles within a few days.
Many patients report meaningful relief within the first 48 hours, though timing varies with the age of the fracture and overall bone health. Your physician will set expectations for your specific case.
A medical-grade acrylic bone cement (PMMA) that has been used in orthopedic surgery for decades, including hip and knee replacements. It hardens inside the vertebra within minutes.
As with any procedure there are risks, including cement leakage, infection, or reaction to anesthesia. Serious complications are uncommon, and your physician will review your individual risk profile before recommending treatment.
Kyphoplasty for painful vertebral compression fractures is widely covered, including by Medicare, when imaging confirms the fracture. Coverage details depend on your plan, so confirm during your consultation.
Leave your email and the care team will reach out to schedule an imaging review and consultation. No obligation, no referral required to ask.
For patient education only. Not medical advice. Treatment decisions are made with your physician after imaging.
