Understanding spinal fractures
Spinal fractures vary in cause, stability and severity. Treatment may include pain relief, bracing and rehabilitation. Unstable fractures or nerve compression may need other operations.
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are options for selected vertebral compression fractures. They are not treatments for every type of spinal fracture.
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
- Vertebroplasty injects bone cement into the fractured vertebra to help stabilise it and relieve pain.
- Kyphoplasty uses a balloon before cement injection. It may restore some vertebral height in selected compression fractures.
How the procedure works
The surgeon accesses the fractured vertebra through a small incision. Cement is injected during vertebroplasty; in kyphoplasty, a balloon is inflated first. Both procedures aim to stabilise the vertebra and reduce pain.
Potential benefits
These approaches aim to relieve fracture-related pain while limiting tissue disruption. Recovery may be shorter than after an open operation, but suitability and outcomes vary.
Recovery
Patients are usually encouraged to resume activities gradually. Physiotherapy may help mobility and reduce complications. The timing depends on the fracture, procedure and individual recovery.
Risks
Possible risks include infection, bleeding, nerve injury, cement leakage and further fractures. A specialist should assess the fracture, discuss alternatives and explain the expected benefits and risks for the patient.





