Summary
We are quite fortunate to have several orthopods who do this procedure at our Yale affiliated teaching hospital. We have had Grand Rounds on this procedure (intended to "sell" us on the concept) and I have had 2 office details by Reps in the past from Kyphon. I just had a recent case of a 92 year woman with 2 vertebral fractures who got relief in 2-3 days, but has now had problems with a shifted "X-Stop" device she is scheduled to have removed soon.
Analysis
As I have noted, we do have some very skilled orthopods in our referral area, and I would not hesitate a moment to refer an acute fracture to them for kyphoplasty. So far, my patients are batting 1000, don't lose any height and have less long term complications such as DVT or prolonged bed rest and muscle atrophy seen with conservative care, not to mention much lower narcotic burndens. I estimate I have had about 10 patients get this done, and so far so good. I also think that the restoration of the vertebral body height reduces foraminal narrowing, improves posture and again, reduces height loss. From what I have seen, it only involves small incisions. I also do NOT send my patients to the Interventional Radiologists, since they use the thin liquid glue which has leaked at times, causing a disaster, and there is no restoration of vertebral body height.
