Is kyphoplasty the standard of care for compression fractures in the spine, especially in the elderly?

Overview

Vertebral fractures, particularly if they are nonsymptomatic, are old, and have not produced kyphotic deformity, should be treated with conservative care, including appropriate medical management. Those fractures that are symptomatic, produce pain that persists over several weeks (4 out of 10 on the visual analog score), and have resulted in some kyphotic deformity should be treated with a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Patients with kyphotic deformity of less than 20% can obtain pain relief from vertebroplasty that is comparable to pain relief from kyphoplasty. For patients with a greater degree of kyphosis, only kyphoplasty can offer the predictable restoration of height and realignment of the spine. Currently we treat all Colles' fractures, all hip fractures, and all tibia plateau fractures. The time has come to treat all symptomatic vertebral fractures.