What to Expect During and After Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is an advanced vertebral compression fracture treatment that we offer at Silver Spine & Neurological Center’s offices in Sherman, Greenville, and McKinney, Texas. These fractures occur when your vertebrae can’t support your body weight or withstand external pressure.

Vertebral compression fractures often result from osteoporosis, a condition where bones become increasingly brittle and prone to collapse. They’re a common problem, with around 700,000 occurring every year in the United States.

If you suffer a compression fracture, kyphoplasty can reduce pain, restore lost height, and improve spinal function. It’s similar to vertebroplasty, where we inject bone cement into the damaged vertebrae to stabilize them. With kyphoplasty, we inflate a tiny balloon in the vertebra to create space before injecting the cement.

The balloon opens the vertebra, restoring its normal height. This makes it a more precise option for repairing compression fractures than without the balloon. Kyphoplasty is minimally invasive, with no large incisions into your spine. Patients typically go home the same day and recover quickly.

Preparing for kyphoplasty

Preparation for your kyphoplasty procedure starts with gathering information and addressing your concerns. We guide you through the process, but here are some standard steps: 

• Smoking increases bleeding and slows healing, so quit if you can
• Reduce your alcohol intake to promote better recovery
• Inform us about any medicines or supplements you take; you may have to stop some
• Avoid eating or drinking for at least eight hours before the procedure

Our double board-certified neurosurgeon, Dr. Viktor Silver, has over 20 years of experience in outpatient spinal surgeries like kyphoplasty, so you’re in safe hands.

What to expect during the kyphoplasty procedure

Kyphoplasty consists of the following steps: 

1. While you lie face down, our medical team sterilizes your back or neck to prepare for the procedure. 
2. They inject a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area so you’re awake but pain-free. 
3. Dr. Silver makes a small incision in your back or neck that’s just large enough for the slender tube he uses during the procedure. 
4. Dr. Silver guides the tube into your fractured vertebra using real-time X-ray imaging. 
5. He inserts a small deflated balloon through the tube and inflates it to create space and restore vertebral height. 
6. Dr. Silver removes the balloon and injects a special bone cement into the space to stabilize the vertebra. 
7. He removes the instruments and protects the incision with a small dressing. 

Kyphoplasty typically takes less than an hour.

What to expect after kyphoplasty   

Recovery after kyphoplasty varies between patients, but we discuss what’s likely with you beforehand.

We monitor you immediately after the procedure to ensure you feel well. Soreness and discomfort are common after kyphoplasty, but we can prescribe medications to alleviate these symptoms. Icing the area for 10 to 20 minutes every few hours also helps. Most patients are up and walking within an hour.

At home, keep the wound clean and dry until it heals. Keep your dressings in place for at least 48 hours, and don’t take a bath or let the bandage get wet. You can shower, provided you cover the incision site. Check for redness or swelling and call us if this occurs or if you have any other concerns.

On the first day, focus on resting and avoiding heavy lifting. You’ll receive tailored advice about resuming normal activities, and we’ll likely recommend physical therapy to support your recovery.

You’ll also need some post-procedural X-rays so we can check your treated vertebrae and ensure the bone cement has set properly. In addition, we may recommend dietary supplements to strengthen your bones.

How soon will I feel the benefits of kyphoplasty?

Many patients experience immediate pain relief after kyphoplasty, although some take longer to feel an improvement. Complete recovery usually takes four to six weeks.

If you think kyphoplasty could help with vertebral compression fracture pain, call Silver Spine & Neurological Center to arrange an evaluation. We also welcome online bookings and inquiries via our Contact Us page.