[Balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of vertebral fractures].
Approximately 500,000 vertebral fractures occur as a result of osteoporosis every year in Europe. One third of the patients thus affected complain of severe back pain and seek treatment. In the past, the treatment of such fractures was limited to conservative methods, such as the use of braces and analgesics and long-term immobilisation followed by physiotherapy. Since 1998 balloon kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, has also been available for their treatment. During balloon kyphoplasty a balloon system is introduced into the fractured vertebral body to achieve bitranspedicular augmentation, after which low-viscosity bone cement is injected into the vertebral body, where it sets very quickly. In general the patient can be fully mobilized 24-48 h after the procedure and in most cases the symptoms are then considerably attenuated; many patients are actually free of pain. Published studies and our own experience indicate that balloon kyphoplasty is a safe method of treating painful vertebral compression fractures sustained in various ways and that complications are rare with this procedure.
DaFonseca
K
K
Sektion Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Abteilung Chirurgie, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120 Heidelberg.
Baier
M
M
Grafe
I
I
Libicher
M
M
Noeldge
G
G
Kasperk
C
C
Meeder
P-J
PJ
D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001843:Bone Cements; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate