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Vertebral Fracture Treatment

Kyphoplasty

Rapid relief for painful spinal compression fractures. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small balloon to restore lost vertebral height and bone cement to stabilize the fracture — often performed same-day as an outpatient procedure. Dr. Tyndall helps patients get back on their feet quickly after a painful vertebral fracture.

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What Is Kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat a painful vertebral compression fracture — a collapse of one of the bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine. When a vertebra fractures and loses height, it can cause sudden, severe back pain and changes in posture.

During kyphoplasty, Dr. Tyndall guides a small needle into the fractured vertebra under live X-ray imaging. A small balloon is gently inflated inside the bone to restore some of the lost height and create a controlled cavity. The balloon is then removed and the cavity is filled with medical bone cement, which hardens quickly to stabilize the fracture and relieve pain.

Because it is performed through a tiny incision and often under local or general anesthesia, kyphoplasty can frequently be done as an outpatient procedure — many patients go home the same day and feel relief within hours to a few days.

What Causes a Vertebral Compression Fracture?

A vertebral compression fracture happens when a spine bone is too weak to support normal forces and collapses. The most common cause is bone weakened by osteoporosis, but fractures can also follow trauma or be related to a tumor.

Osteoporosis (most common)
Thinning, fragile bone can fracture from everyday activities. Learn more in our blog on osteoporosis and spinal fractures.
Minor trauma in fragile bone
A simple fall, a misstep, or even bending or lifting can be enough to fracture weakened bone.
Injury or higher-energy trauma
A more significant fall or accident can fracture an otherwise healthy vertebra.
Tumor
A tumor in or near the spine can weaken a vertebra and lead to a compression fracture.

Signs of a Compression Fracture

A vertebral compression fracture can cause sudden, severe back pain that often worsens with standing or walking, a noticeable loss of height over time, or a stooped-forward posture known as kyphosis. Pain that does not settle with rest and medication should be evaluated, since timely treatment can make a meaningful difference.

Interactive — click each step

How Kyphoplasty Works, Step by Step

Healthy vertebra Balloon Needle Fracture Healthy vertebra Balloon restores height · cement stabilizes

Diagram is a simplified illustration for education and is not an exact anatomical depiction.

Interactive — compare the two

Kyphoplasty vs. Vertebroplasty

Both procedures stabilize a fractured vertebra with bone cement. The key difference is the balloon.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty adds a balloon step. Before the cement is placed, a small balloon is gently inflated inside the fractured vertebra to restore lost height and create a controlled cavity. This can help reduce the spinal deformity and gives the cement a defined space to fill.

  • Balloon step: Inflated first to restore vertebral height and create a cavity
  • Goal: Stabilize the fracture, relieve pain, and reduce deformity
  • Cement: Placed into the cavity created by the balloon

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty stabilizes the fracture by injecting bone cement directly into the fractured vertebra, without the balloon step. It can relieve pain by stabilizing the broken bone, but it does not include the height-restoring balloon used in kyphoplasty.

  • No balloon: Cement is injected without first inflating a balloon
  • Goal: Stabilize the fracture and relieve pain
  • Height: Less focused on restoring lost vertebral height

Dr. Tyndall reviews your imaging and fracture to recommend the approach best suited to you.

Interactive — check what applies

Who Is a Candidate for Kyphoplasty?

Check any statements that apply to you to see whether kyphoplasty may be worth discussing with Dr. Tyndall.

Check the boxes above to see your result.

The more of these that apply, the more likely it is worth discussing kyphoplasty with Dr. Tyndall.

This checklist is for education only and is not a diagnosis. Only an evaluation with imaging by Dr. Tyndall can determine whether kyphoplasty is right for you.

Benefits of Kyphoplasty

For the right patient with a painful compression fracture, kyphoplasty can offer meaningful advantages over waiting out the fracture.

Rapid Pain ReliefMany patients feel meaningful relief within hours to a few days
Often OutpatientFrequently performed same-day, so many patients go home the same day
Small IncisionPerformed through a tiny incision using a needle and live X-ray guidance
Restores HeightThe balloon can restore lost vertebral height and reduce spinal deformity
Quick Return to ActivityMany patients are encouraged to walk soon after and resume light activity quickly
Stabilizes the FractureHardened cement supports the broken bone to ease motion-related pain
Interactive — tap a milestone

What Recovery Looks Like

Timelines are typical ranges and vary by individual. Because most compression fractures relate to osteoporosis, treating the underlying bone health is an essential part of recovery. Dr. Tyndall gives every patient a personalized plan.

Timing Matters — and When to Seek Urgent Care

Kyphoplasty generally produces the best results when a painful vertebral compression fracture is treated relatively soon after it occurs, rather than waiting many months. If you have new, severe back pain, it is worth being evaluated promptly.

Certain symptoms need urgent care: sudden weakness in the legs, numbness, or any change in bladder or bowel control can signal pressure on the spinal nerves. If these occur, seek care right away or call 911.

Why Choose Dr. Tyndall for Kyphoplasty

A painful compression fracture deserves the judgment of an experienced spine surgeon. Dr. Tyndall combines elite training with a minimally invasive, outpatient-focused approach.

Minimally Invasive Focus
Pioneer in minimally invasive and outpatient spine surgery, with tissue-sparing techniques and rapid recovery
20+ Years of Experience
Board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon (MD, FAAOS) with two decades of specialized expertise
Elite Training
NYU medical degree, Stanford residency, fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) — the nation's #1 orthopedic hospital
Technology Pioneer
First spine surgeon in Indiana to use computerized navigation for outpatient minimally invasive spine surgery
Trusted by Patients
Four-time Patients' Choice Award winner with a 4.9 out of 5 rating across more than 300 reviews
Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute
Partner at Northwest Indiana's most preferred orthopedic and spine practice
Minimally invasive spine surgery · Outpatient spine surgery · Osteoporosis & spinal fractures · Spinal stenosis

Frequently Asked Questions About Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that treats a painful vertebral compression fracture. Through a small needle placed into the fractured spine bone under live X-ray guidance, a balloon is gently inflated to restore lost height and create a cavity. The cavity is then filled with medical bone cement that hardens quickly to stabilize the bone and relieve pain. Dr. Tyndall often performs kyphoplasty on an outpatient basis.
A vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is a collapse of one of the bones (vertebrae) that make up the spine. It most often occurs in bone weakened by osteoporosis, but it can also result from minor trauma, injury, or a tumor. A compression fracture can cause sudden, severe back pain, a loss of height, or a stooped-forward posture known as kyphosis.
Both procedures stabilize a fractured vertebra by injecting medical bone cement. The key difference is the balloon. In kyphoplasty, a small balloon is first inflated inside the bone to gently restore lost vertebral height and create a controlled cavity before the cement is placed. In vertebroplasty, cement is injected without the balloon step. Dr. Tyndall chooses the approach best suited to your fracture.
Kyphoplasty is often performed on an outpatient basis, meaning many patients go home the same day. It is typically done through a tiny incision under local or general anesthesia. Whether you are a candidate for same-day discharge depends on your overall health and the specifics of your fracture, which Dr. Tyndall reviews with you.
Many patients experience meaningful relief of their fracture pain within hours to a few days after kyphoplasty, as the hardened cement stabilizes the broken bone. The amount and speed of relief varies from person to person. Dr. Tyndall reviews realistic expectations with each patient before the procedure.
Recovery after kyphoplasty is usually quick. Many patients are encouraged to get up and walk soon after the procedure and return to light daily activities within 1 to 2 weeks. Because the underlying cause is often osteoporosis, ongoing bone-health treatment and follow-up are an important part of recovery to help reduce the risk of future fractures. Dr. Tyndall provides an individualized recovery plan for every patient.
Good candidates typically have a recent, painful vertebral compression fracture confirmed on imaging whose pain has not been controlled by rest and medication. Timing matters: kyphoplasty generally works best when performed relatively soon after a painful fracture rather than waiting many months. Dr. Tyndall evaluates each patient individually with a history, examination, and imaging to determine whether kyphoplasty is appropriate.

Relief From a Painful Compression Fracture

If a painful vertebral compression fracture is keeping you from standing, walking, or sleeping, find out whether kyphoplasty can help. Because timing matters, don't wait — call today to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Tyndall.

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Crown Point, IN 46307

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