Balloon kyphoplasty is the same as vertebroplasty. It is a minimally invasive procedure treatment for spinal compression fractures (also known as vertebral compression fractures of VCFs). The main purpose of this treatment is to relieve pain, restore vertebral height, and correct kyphosis. Balloon Kyphoplasty is the modified technique of vertebroplasty; the only main difference is that balloon kyphoplasty uses as the suggest a small balloon that gently lifts and put the bone fragments into their correct position. Balloon kyphoplasty can be effective in treating people whose vertebrae collapse due to osteoporosis,(mainly a disease that causes loss of bone density) or whose bones are weakened by cancer. This treatment is used to recover recent fractures. Kyphoplasty increases the patient’s functional abilities, allow gain strength and to perform the previous level of activity, and prevent further vertebral collapse. The procedure is usually successful at alleviating the pain caused by a compression fracture; many patients feel significant relief almost immediately

There is no upper age limit for this treatment. And the best part of balloon kyphoplasty is that there are more benefits than its side-effects.

The procedure of balloon kyphoplasty:

Your surgeon performs these steps for balloon kyphoplasty:

• Firstly, you maybe given some general anesthesia and antibiotic to prevent infection.
• Then the surgeon inserts a hollow needle (trocar) into your skin. With the help of fluoroscopy, (a type of X-ray), they guide the needle through your muscles and into the correct position in your bone.
• The next step is to insert an inflatable balloon into the trocar.
• Once it is in the position the balloon is then inflated to create the space required for the bone cement.
• After space has opened up, the mixture is injected to fill it up. Imaging tests will help the surgeon confirm that the mixture is distributed properly.
• Once the cement is in place, gently the needle is removed.
• The area is bandaged. Stitches won’t be necessary.
• A CT-scan may be used at the end of the procedure to check and verify the distribution of the cement.

After the treatment, a patient must be advised to stay in a recovery room for a short time usually a day. Immediately after the procedure, you may have some soreness or pain which can be relieved after 48hrs of your treatment. It is not a time-consuming procedure it usually takes half-per level.

Balloon kyphoplasty risks:

As we know every procedure has some risks and benefits.

• If we talk about balloon kyphoplasty this treatment is not advisable for back arthritis, herniated disks, or curvature of the spine surgeon in Delhi due to scoliosis. It might have some serious consequences. However, the risk or complication rate for Balloon Kyphoplasty is very low, as with most surgical procedures serious adverse events, some of which can be fatal, can occur, including heart attack, cardiac arrest (heart stops beating), stroke, and embolism (blood, fat or cement that migrates to the lungs or heart).
• Some other risks include leakage of bone cement into the muscle and tissue surrounding the spinal cord and nerve injury that can, infection, in some rare instances, it causes paralysis; leakage of bone cement into the blood vessels resulting in damage to the blood vessels, lungs and/or heart.
• increase the pain- sometimes balloon kyphoplasty worsens the pain. It either fails to relieve the pain or results in worse pain or other symptoms. For example, if bone cement leaks onto a nerve root or the spinal cord, it could potentially cause worsened symptoms of pain, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness. This happens in some very rare case of around 5% of the patients undergoing balloon kyphoplasty does not get relief from the pain.

It is very important to consult the Best Orthopedic Doctor in Delhi NCR before going through the treatment as balloon kyphoplasty is not for everyone.

Balloon kyphoplasty Side-effects:

• redness of the place where the treatment has been done.
• soreness
• anesthetic risks,
• surgical mistakes,
• There is a possibility of infection
• It can cause bleeding where the needle is penetrated
• In some cases the procedure causes another fracture in the spine or ribs.
• nerve damage from the procedure can lead to numbness, weakness, or tingling
• pulmonary embolism.

Hence, if you wish to go for this treatment this is all you need to know. It is highly recommended to consult the doctor before undergoing balloon kyphoplasty to prevent serious consequences.