Kyphoplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures

Vertebral compression fractures are the most common fragility fractures, and they have significant medical and economical consequences. Conventional medical therapy for these fractures is aimed at treatment of symptoms with bed rest, analgesic medications, and bracing. Surgery is reserved for those patients with neurological deficits or compression of neural elements. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option to strengthen the fractured vertebra and to relieve associated pain. Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is a novel technique designed to relieve pain, strengthen the fractured vertebra, and restore the height of the compressed vertebra, thus minimizing the spinal deformity and its adverse sequelae. This article provides a brief introduction to this new technique and its current status in clinical practice.