Kyphoplasty

Preparing for the procedure

Tell your health care provider about all medicines you take. This includes over-the-counter medicines, herbs, vitamins, and other supplements.

• Ask your provider if you should stop taking any medicines, such as blood thinners, before the procedure.

• Follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before surgery.

• Arrange for an adult family member or friend to drive you home.

During the procedure

Your health care provider will give you anesthesia. This is medicine to keep you from feeling pain during the procedure.

• Your surgeon makes one or more tiny incisions in your back.

• Using live video X-ray images (fluoroscopy) as a guide, your surgeon inserts a hollow tube through the incision (cut) into the collapsed vertebra.

• A small balloon is passed through the tube into the vertebra. There, it's inflated to open a space.

• In most cases, the balloon is then removed, and the empty space is filled with special cement for bones.

Risks and possible complications

Kyphoplasty is considered safe. If complications do happen, they may include:

• Spinal cord or nerve damage.

• Cement leakage in blood vessels, or against the spinal cord.

• Heart or lung problems.

• New or unrelieved back pain.

• Infection.

• Allergy to the cement. (This is rare.)

• Fractures of the nearby vertebrae.

After the procedure

You will be sent to a recovery room after the procedure. You probably will go home later the same day. Or you might stay the night in a hospital room. When you’re ready to go home, your health care provider will tell you how to care for yourself.

When to call your doctor

Contact your health care provider right away if you have:

• A fever of  100.4° F ( 38.0°C)  or higher, or as directed by your doctor.

• New pain, weakness, tingling, or numbness in your legs.

• New or unrelieved back pain.