Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are both percutaneous techniques (minimally invasive, i.e., with access through one or more punctures, so that the musculature is not injured).
With these techniques the affected vertebra is filled with a material that reinforces and hardens it, for the treatment of different vertebral injuries in which there is a deformity, as in vertebral fractures and crushing, or a weakening of the structure of the vertebra that causes pain or is likely to evolve into a fracture and/or crushing of the vertebra, as in tumors, metabolic diseases, etc.
What are the advantages of kyphoplasty?
They differ in that, although both fill the vertebra, vertebroplasty does not have the capacity to correct the deformity, while kyphoplasty, through the introduction of a balloon, which swells once inside the vertebral body, has the capacity to correct the deformity (the crushing), in addition to creating a space, once the balloon is removed, to fill with acrylic cement, preventing the vertebra from deforming again, and greatly reducing the risk of leakage of the cement.
What are the results after kyphoplasty?
Both techniques have good clinical results in terms of pain treatment, with kyphoplasty being clearly superior, both for its ability to correct the deformity and for having very little risk of leakage of the filling cement compared to vertebroplasty.
How is the recovery process?
The recovery process is usually very fast, the patient can get up within a few hours and can normally be discharged home within 18-24 hours, without the need for a corset.
As there is no surgical wound, other than small punctures, there is no need for bandages, and the patient can walk and go out in the street from the first few days.