Treatments for Spinal Fracture

If you’re at risk for spinal fracture or have already experienced one, it’s important to be aware of your treatment options and discuss them with your doctor.

Unfortunately, once you’ve had one spinal fracture, chances are high that you’ll experience another one within a year.⁵ Because spinal fracture symptoms are often dismissed as normal back pain that comes with age, many people don’t receive proper treatment soon enough. This increases their risk for developing long-term health complications from spinal fracture, such as spine deformity.

Minimally Invasive Procedures for Treating Spinal Fracture

Balloon Kyphoplasty

Balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that may help alleviate pain and correct vertebral body angular deformity caused by spinal fracture.
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Vertebroplasty Procedure

Vertebroplasty involves injecting bone cement into the collapsed vertebra to create a cement cast that stabilizes the fractured vertebra in its collapsed state.
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Comparing Spinal Fracture Treatments

Treatment Goals

	Balloon Kyphoplasty	Vertebroplasty
Relieves Back Pain	Yes	Yes
Stabilizes Fracture	Yes	Yes
Corrects Angular Deformity	Yes	No
Restores Vertebral Body Height	Yes	No
Create Cavity	Yes	No

The underlying causes of VCF, such as osteoporosis and cancer, must still be evaluated and treated.

Safety Profile

	Balloon Kyphoplasty	Vertebroplasty
Fewer Cement-Related Complications1,2*	Yes	No
Fewer Cement Leakages 2,3,4*	Yes	No
Fewer Clinical Complications 2,3*	Yes	No

* These are meta-analyses. Meta-analyses are data collected from multiple clinical results. Please see the references listed below.

* Not every cement leakage will be a complication.

Other Treatments for Spinal Fracture

Nonsurgical Pain Management

Traditionally, treatment for spinal fracture was often limited to nonsurgical pain management with medication and braces.
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Comparison of Balloon Kyphoplasty and Nonsurgical Care

Treatment Goals

	Balloon Kyphoplasty	Nonsurgical Care
Relieves Back Pain	Yes	Yes
Stabilizes Fracture	Yes	No
Corrects Angular Deformity	Yes	No
Restores Vertebral Body Height	Yes	No
Creates Cavity for Cement	Yes	No

The underlying causes of VCF, such as osteoporosis and cancer, must still be evaluated and treated.

Important Safety Information

The complication rate with KYPHON^® Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low.  There are risks associated with the procedure (for example, cement leakage), including serious complications, and though rare, some of which may be fatal.  This procedure is not for everyone.  A prescription is required.  Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, contraindications, benefits, and risks.  Only you and your physician can determine whether this procedure is right for you.