Balloon kyphoplasty advances the concept of vertebroplasty by incorporating an inflatable balloon to create a cavity within the compressed vertebra before cement injection. This additional step potentially restores vertebral height and reduces kyphotic deformity while creating a controlled space for cement delivery. The procedure is particularly valuable for acute traumatic fractures or neoplastic compression where height restoration is feasible and desirable.
Robotic-assisted kyphoplasty follows similar initial steps to vertebroplasty, with precise planning of needle trajectories based on detailed 3D imaging. After our surgeon makes a robotic-guided needle placement into the vertebral body, an inflatable balloon tamp is inserted through the working channel. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the balloon is inflated to create a cavity and potentially restore vertebral height. The exceptional accuracy of robotically guided needle placement ensures optimal positioning for balloon inflation and subsequent cement delivery. After balloon deflation and removal, bone cement is carefully injected into the created cavity. The controlled cavity created by the balloon potentially reduces the risk of cement leakage compared to standard vertebroplasty.
This precise, minimally invasive approach provides pain relief and improved stability while potentially addressing the kyphotic deformity associated with vertebral compression, offering comprehensive treatment for selected vertebral fractures.
