Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty: An Overview

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty are mini-invasive surgical procedures that, since their introduction about 30 years ago, have gained an increased popularity for the treatment of symptomatic vertebral compression fractures. Due to the reported positive results in terms of increased pain control, quality of life, and spinal stability, the surgical indications have progressively expanded encompassing vertebral angiomas, osteoporotic, traumatic and pathologic vertebral lesions. In this chapter, the history and development of such techniques have been briefly reviewed, as well as the main results, guidelines, controversial topics, and recent developments that emerged from the literature.