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Kyphoplasty/Vertebroplasty

Overview

Compression fractures in the middle (thoracic) and lower (lumbar) spine are common, especially among older women who have lost bone mineral in their vertebra. You can sustain one of these fractures even without any significant trauma.

Procedures such as kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty have successfully treated many thousands of patients with these conditions over the last 10 years. Your spine surgeon will inject stabilizing plastic cement into your vertebrae at the fracture site, which significantly reduces your pain. Your spine surgeon might be able to realign your spine before injecting the cement.

Patients who have certain types of cancer, such as multiple myeloma, might also be candidates for these procedures because the cancer also causes bone mineral loss. OHSU physicians at the Spine Center have extensive experience performing both vertebroplasy and kyphoplasty for patients with spinal compressions fractures due to osteoporosis or multiple myeloma.