Percutaneous vertebral augmentation: vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: operative technique

The intravertebral injection of acrylic resin cement -usually polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)- into a fractured vertebral body, constitutes the basis of the so called "vertebral augmentation techniques", "vertebroplasty" and "kyphoplasty", to manage pain and to strengthen and stabilize the compromised vertebra. In some ocassion, prior to the PMMA injection, an inflatable bone tamp was inserted into both pedicles of the fractured vertebra with the aim of restoring vertebral height to correct the kyphosis deformation. This procedure is called kyphoplasty (balloon-assisted vertebroplasty). The indications for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are evolving, from stabilization of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures to vertebral collapse secondary to spinal metastases. In this paper we review the technical basis of both procedures, according to our experience in the treatment of vertebral fractures. Further studies are required to define the role for each technique in the spinal surgery's armamentarium.