kyphoplasty

kyphoplasty A somewhat incorrect name for the vertebroplasty procedure. Kyphoplasty literally means “to repair the bending of the spine to curve outward from the body.” Kyphosis can result when a vertebra (or several vertebrae) suffers a compression fracture from osteoporosis. Vertebroplasty is the procedure that can re-establish the height of a compressed vertebra. Sometimes, but not always, vertebroplasty can correct some of the kyphosis. See also vertebroplasty.