Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed under local or general anesthesia. The duration of the procedure is usually an hour. This procedure is intended to help patients with a stress fracture in their spine from trauma, osteoporosis, or metastatic cancers like prostate or breast cancer, or multiple myeloma. Note that this procedure will not cure the primary cancer, but it can provide a structural solution to the compromised area.
References
Murphy K. Radiofrequency Kyphoplasty: A Novel Approach to Minimally Invasive Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures in The Comprehensive Treatment of the Aging Spine: Minimally Invasive and Advanced Techniques edited by Yue JJ, Guyer R, Johnson JP, Khoo LT, Hochschuler H, and Hochschuler SH. Elsevier. Pg 248-252.
Elgeti F and Gebauer B. Radiofrequency Kyphoplasty for the Treatment of Osteoporotic and Neoplastic Vertebral Body Fractures: Preliminary Experience and Clinical Results after 6 Months. J Mimer Stoffwechs. 2011;18 Suppl 1:S5-9.
Licht AW and Kramer W. Radiofrequency kyphoplasty: a new method for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures ¬– a case report. J Miner Stoffwechs. 2011;18 Suppl 1:S26-28.
Licht, AW and Kramer W. One-year observation study upon a new augmentation procedure (Radiofrequency-Kyphoplasty) in the treatment of vertebral body compression fractures. Eurospine 2011.
Erdem E, Akdol S, Amole A, Fryar K, and Eberle R. Initial Clinical Experience with Radio-Frequency Based Vertebral Augmentation in Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures As a Result of Multiple Myeloma. ASSR 2011.
Pflugmacher, R, Bornemann, R, Randau, T, and Wirtz, DC. Comparison of clinical and radiological data in treatment of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with radiofrequency kyphoplasty or balloon kyphoplasty. GRIBOI 2011 – The 21st Interdisciplinary Research Conference On Injectable Osteoarticular Biomaterials and Bone Augmentation Procedures.