Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are image-guided procedures performed in an operating room with x-ray equipment. Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are successful about 90 percent of the time in relieving the pain of spinal compression fractures. Both procedures involve the injection of a polymer (“bone cement”) into the fractured bone. This not only provides pain relief, but also stabilizes the bone and prevents progression of the fracture and associated kyphosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine.
