Balloon kyphoplasty: one-year outcomes in vertebral body height restoration, chronic pain, and activity levels

Object. The authors assessed the safety of balloon kyphoplasty in the reduction and repair of osteopenic vertebral compression fractures and report functional outcomes (back pain and activity levels) in the first 96 patients (with 133 fractures) at their institution. Additionally they provide radiographic outcomes in the first 26 patients (41 fractures) treated and followed for I year. Methods. The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of functional outcomes and evaluated radiographs obtained at I week, I month, 3 months, 6 months, and I year postoperatively. Conclusions. Balloon kyphoplasty safely increases vertebral body height, decreases chronic back pain, and quickly returns geriatric patients to higher activity levels, leading to increased independence and quality of life.