Skip to : [Content] [Navigation]
 

MX

 
 
Email article link Print article

Originally Published MX November/December 2006

COVER STORY

Treating the Symptoms and the Source

Return to Article:
Growing up, Globally

Kyphon Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA) estimates that more than 260,000 patients are diagnosed with a vertebral compression fracture every year. Vertebral compression fractures have traditionally been treated with bed rest, medication, and bracing, all of which help to decrease a patient's pain but do not address the spinal deformity.

Balloon kyphoplasty—a procedure pioneered by Kyphon—is a minimally invasive option that addresses both the deformity and the pain by stabilizing the fracture and helping to correct the vertebral-body deformity. Kyphon estimates that since 1998, the procedure has been used to treat more than 275,000 fractures in 230,000 patients.

The steps of kyphoplasty procedure are as follows.

  • Balloon Insertion: Through a 1-cm incision, a working cannula is placed through the pedicle, and an     orthopedic balloon is guided into the fractured vertebral body.
  • Full Inflation: The balloon is inflated, pushing the crushed endplates apart with the goal of restoring a     more-normal anatomy. The approach is bilateral, using two balloons.
  • Void within Vertebral Body: Once the shape of the vertebral body has been restored as much as     possible, the balloons are deflated and removed. Inflation and deflation of the balloons creates a void,     which serves as a repository for the bone cement.
  • Cement Fill: The void is then filled with KyphX HV-R bone cement under low, manual pressure.

    The procedure typically takes less than one hour per fracture treated and may require a brief hospital stay. After the procedure, the patient should return to the treating physician for medical management and follow-up.

    Copyright ©2006 MX
    •