Kyphoplasty vs. Vertebroplasty
Two closely related procedures treat the same problem. The difference is a single step, and it affects whether lost height can be restored.
The Shared Goal.
Both procedures treat a painful vertebral compression fracture by placing bone cement into the collapsed bone to stabilize it. Both are minimally invasive, image-guided, and usually done as an outpatient. Both aim to relieve fracture pain that has not settled with rest and medication. The cement hardens within minutes and holds the bone in place.
What Vertebroplasty Does.
Vertebroplasty injects bone cement directly into the fractured vertebra through a narrow needle. There is no step to expand the bone first. It stabilizes the fracture and relieves pain. It does not attempt to restore height the fracture has already lost.
What Kyphoplasty Adds.
Kyphoplasty adds one step before the cement. A small balloon is inflated inside the fractured vertebra to create a cavity and partially lift the collapsed bone. The balloon is removed, and cement fills the space it made. That added step can restore some of the lost height and gives the cement a defined cavity to fill, which can lower the chance of it spreading beyond the bone.
How Dr. Hirsch Chooses.
The right procedure depends on the fracture: its age, its shape, how much height was lost, and the quality of the surrounding bone. Both are established, effective treatments for the right fracture. Dr. Hirsch recommends the approach that fits after reviewing the fracture on your imaging.
Timing Matters for Both.
Neither procedure helps a fracture that has already healed. An MRI shows whether a fracture is recent and still the source of pain, which is what makes it treatable. The sooner a painful fracture is evaluated, the more options stay open.
Dr. Hirsch is board-certified and Yale-trained. Read his full background.