Restoring geometric and loading alignment of the thoracic spine with a vertebral compression fracture: effects of balloon (bone tamp) inflation and spinal extension

Adjacent Level Load Transfer Following Vertebral Augmentation in the Cadaveric Spine

“…Various methods have been described to assist in reproducing VCFs that include centrum defects with combined compression and flexion, 14 the weight drop technique with centrum defects, 15 and the inflatable bone tamp for void creation with compression and flexion. 11,12,16 In this study, reproducible VCF location was a critical aspect because the focus of the research was on the adjacent level. This was achieved using the coring method in the normal group (group 1) and inflatable bone tamp in the osteoporotic group (group 2), and subsequently subjecting both to combined compression and flexion.…”

Clinical and radiographic results of balloon kyphoplasty for treatment of vertebral body metastases and multiple myelomas

“…26,27 The fracture types, vertebral body posterior wall integrity and evidence of epidural tumor extension were evaluated by MRI and CT scans. Vertebral body fractures were classified as wedge or biconcave.…”

Restoration of Spinal Alignment and Disk Mechanics following Polyetheretherketone Wafer Kyphoplasty with StaXx FX

“…If kyphotic spinal alignment alters load sharing and disturbs the balance between vertebral segments leading to an increased likelihood of new fractures, any effort to correct the kyphosis to prevent subsequent vertebral fractures is justified. 4,11,18 Gaitanis et al 11 showed that cement augmentation with hyperextension almost totally restored anterior and middle vertebral column height; however, posterior height was not corrected adequately. The results from the current study closely match those of Gaitanis et al 11 in terms of restoration of anterior height, whereas StaXx FX was able to nearly equally reduce both the vertebral and segmental kyphosis.…”

“…This modifies the loads within the kyphotic segment by shifting the center of gravity forward, ultimately increasing the compressive loads and the risk for adjacent vertebral fractures. [9][10][11] Under normal conditions, the nucleus develops pressure when the spine is loaded. This pressure allows the nucleus to share load with the annulus, producing a uniform load on the vertebral body.…”