Balloon Kyphoplasty and Vertebral Compression Fractures: Glossary

Bone cement
A surgical adhesive that can be used to fill a void or affix bone and/or orthopaedic hardware to bone.

Bone mineral density (BMD) test
An accurate, low-dose x-ray that measures bone health.

General anesthesia
The administration of anesthetic drugs during a surgical procedure to induce a state of total unconsciousness.

Kyphosis
Excessive curvature of the upper spine resulting in a stooped or "hunchbacked" posture. Often referred to as a dowager's hump.

Local anesthesia
The administration of anesthetic drugs to confine loss of sensation to a specific area; e.g., a "numbing shot" from the dentist. When local anesthesia is used, the patient is often awake and responsive. Minimally invasive Any surgical technique in which a large incision is not required.

MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive test that produces two-dimensional images for viewing. MRIs do not involve the use of radiation.

Multiple myeloma
A cancer of the bone marrow; specifically a proliferation of the plasma cells. Multiple myeloma destroys bone tissue, in addition to causing anemia and other blood disorders. Myeloma is referred to as "multiple" because more than one area of the bone marrow is usually affected.

Osteoporosis
A disease that causes bones to become weak and susceptible to fracture.

Pulmonary
Having to do with the lungs and respiratory system.

Vertebra
Any one of the 33 bones that form the spinal column. Humans have 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (upper back,) 5 lumbar (lower back), 5 sacral and 4 coccygeal ("tailbone") vertebrae.

Vertebral body
The round, bony area of a vertebra.

Vertebral compression fracture
Osteoporosis and certain types of cancer can cause the bones of the spine to become weak or brittle, sometimes causing the vertebrae to fracture.

Void, cavity
An empty area or space.

As with any surgery, there are potential risks. Although balloon kyphoplasty is designed to minimize these risks as much as possible, there is a chance that complications could occur. Serious adverse events can occur including: myocardial infarction (heart attack), cerebrovascular accident (stroke), pulmonary embolism (cement leakage that migrates to the lungs), cardiac arrest (heart stops beating), paralysis or muscle weakness, death. Patients should consult with their doctor for a full discussion of risks.