Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive spine procedure used to treat painful compression fractures in the vertebrae (the building blocks of your spine). Imagine one of those blocks gets crushed down, often from osteoporosis or a hard fall. That collapse can cause sharp back pain and change your posture.

During kyphoplasty, the surgeon uses live X‑ray to guide a needle into the broken vertebra through a tiny skin puncture. Through this needle, a small balloon is slid into the bone and gently inflated. This can help lift the collapsed area and create a controlled space inside the vertebra. Once the space is shaped, the balloon is removed and the cavity is filled with a special bone cement. The cement hardens quickly, stabilizing the fracture from the inside so the bone doesn’t keep shifting.

Kyphoplasty doesn’t replace the whole vertebra; it reinforces the damaged part. The goal is simple: stabilize the crushed bone so movement hurts less, standing and walking feel more secure, and you can get back to everyday activities with better comfort.

Shorter wait times

• Public queues for spine imaging, consults, and OR time can be long.
• Private centres can often:
  • Arrange assessment and MRI/CT faster
  • Book kyphoplasty within weeks, not months
• That means less time stuck with sharp back pain every time you stand, walk, or roll in bed.

Choice and control

‍Going private gives you more say in your care. You can:

• Pick a surgeon who itemizes experience with osteoporotic compression fractures and cement techniques.
• Choose the clinic location (often out‑of‑province) that fits your travel plans.
• Schedule surgery around exams, work deadlines, or caregiving duties.

Peace of mind

• You know who is operating, what levels they’ll treat, and when it will happen.
• Clear details on anaesthesia, number of vertebrae, and immediate activity plan make it easier to organize family help and time off.

Preventing further decline

• Function: Ongoing fracture pain can wreck sleep, limit walking, and make even short outings exhausting.
• Spine health: An untreated, collapsed vertebra can sometimes worsen stooping posture and load nearby levels more.
• Complexity later: Long periods of guarding and deconditioning can make rehab tougher even once the fracture is stabilized.
• Mental load: Early, planned treatment can reduce the constant stress of wondering how long the pain will last and whether another fracture will push you over the edge.

1. ‍Confirm the diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that surgery is advisable, but your surgeon can also confirm if needed.
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2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in kyphoplasty.
   
   • You can find surgeon in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. ‍Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
   • We recommend scheduling at least 2-4 consults with different surgeons.
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4. ‍Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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6. ‍Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

How long it takes

Most kyphoplasty procedures take about 30–60 minutes per fractured vertebra of operating time. Add a few extra hours at the surgical centre for check‑in, anaesthesia, and recovery before you go home.

Basic steps

• ‍Check‑in and marking‍
  
  • You meet the team, review the plan, and confirm which vertebra(e) are being treated. The skin is marked using your imaging as a guide.‍
• Anaesthesia‍
  
  • You’ll get either general anaesthesia (fully asleep) or strong sedation with local freezing in the back, depending on the centre and your health.‍
• Position and prep‍
  
  • You’re positioned face‑down on padded supports so there’s no pressure on your chest or belly. Your back is cleaned and covered in sterile drapes.‍
• Guided needle placement‍
  
  • Using live X‑ray (fluoroscopy), the surgeon guides a thin needle through a tiny skin puncture into the crushed vertebra.
• ‍Balloon in‍
  
  • Through the needle, a small balloon is slid into the bone and gently inflated. This can help lift part of the collapsed area and create a controlled space inside the vertebra.‍
• Cement in‍
  
  • The balloon is removed, and the space is filled with special bone cement. Under X‑ray, the surgeon itemizes how much cement goes in and where it flows, then waits for it to harden.‍
• Close up‍
  
  • The needle is removed. The skin puncture is usually so small it may only need a bandage.‍
• Wake‑up and instructions‍
  
  • You go to the PACU (recovery room), where nurses monitor you, check your back, and review early walking and activity instructions before you head home or to a ward bed, depending on your situation.

Every spine is different—follow your surgeon’s plan. The goal after kyphoplasty is to let the cemented bone settle while you slowly get your movement and confidence back.

In general, what to expect:

Day 0–3 (right after surgery)‍

Reality check: your back will feel sore at the puncture site, and you might be tired from anaesthesia.

• Goals: control pain, protect the treated level, and get walking safely.
• Activities: short, frequent walks in the hallway/at home; keep the bandage clean and dry; avoid heavy bending, lifting, and twisting; practise getting in and out of bed using a “log‑roll” instead of twisting.

Weeks 1–2‍

Still annoying but usually much better than the original fracture pain for many people.

• Goals: improve walking distance and posture, let the skin puncture heal.
• Activities: daily walks (several short ones > one long one), gentle standing posture checks, light everyday stuff like making a snack or short outings, as comfort allows. Your surgeon may clear you to shower once the wound is sealed.

Weeks 3–6‍

The “get your life back” phase.

• Goals: return to most normal daily activities without big pain spikes.
• Activities: longer walks, light household tasks (no heavy boxes), maybe a stationary bike if cleared. Some people return to desk‑type school/work in this window, depending on how they feel and what their surgeon says.

Weeks 6–12‍

Building strength and confidence.

• Goals: better core and hip strength, more stamina.
• Activities: physio or home exercises focusing on gentle core, hip, and leg strength; gradually more standing and walking; careful return toward heavier tasks if approved. Impact sports and heavy lifting usually stay restricted until your surgeon is happy with healing and bone quality.

Helpful tips

• Pace yourself: a little often is better than one huge, exhausting day.
• Spine‑smart moves: keep things close to your body when you lift; bend at hips and knees, not by rounding your back.
• Bone health: your team may talk about vitamin D, calcium, or medications for osteoporosis so more fractures are less likely.

Exact prices depend on how many vertebrae are treated, why they fractured, and whether you stay overnight. Always ask for a written, itemized quote.

In Canada, private clinics charge between $15,000 – $35,000.

In the United States, you can expect between CA$15,500 - CA$42,700.

Prices climb with more levels treated, extra cement, or if you need admission instead of same‑day discharge.

What’s usually included (ask clinics to itemize)

• Surgeon fee and anaesthesia services
• Accredited facility/OR time and nursing
• Standard disposables, needles, balloons, and bone cement
• Basic intra‑op imaging (fluoroscopy/X‑ray)
• Immediate PACU (recovery room) care
• Early follow‑up visit(s) in the clinic’s “global” period

What’s often not included

• Initial consults and pre‑op imaging (X‑ray, CT, MRI) done outside the clinic
• Extra vertebrae/levels or longer OR time beyond the base quote
• Special add‑ons (advanced cement types, extra imaging, neuromonitoring) unless clearly bundled
• Overnight hospital stay or extra days if you can’t go home the same day
• Prescription meds after discharge (pain, nausea, stool softeners)
• Ongoing physiotherapy and bone‑health work‑up (DEXA scan, osteoporosis meds)
• Travel and accommodation if surgery is out‑of‑province/state

Choosing your surgeon/clinic is one of the biggest benefits of going private. Here's how to choose wisely.

What to look for

Experience and volume

• Ask how many kyphoplasties they do per year and their case mix:
  • Osteoporosis fractures
  • Cancer‑related fractures
  • Trauma‑related fractures
• Higher volume and standardized outpatient pathways usually mean smoother care and fewer complications.

Credentials and training

• Verify licensure with your provincial college (CPSO in Ontario, CPSBC in BC, CPSA in Alberta, CMQ in Québec, etc.).
• Look for FRCSC‑certified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic spine surgeons with specific spine and vertebral fracture experience.

Outcomes and safety

• Ask for recent numbers on:
  • Infection rate
  • Cement leakage issues
  • Unplanned return to the OR within 30–90 days
  • New/worsening nerve or leg symptoms
  • Readmissions after same‑day discharge
• Request outcomes that matter to you: pain scores, walking distance, and return‑to‑work timing.

Indications and alternatives

• Make sure non‑operative options were discussed (bracing, meds, physio, bone‑strengthening meds).
• Clear reasons for kyphoplasty (severe pain from a fresh fracture that matches imaging) = better chance of meeting expectations.

Imaging and planning

• Ask how they use X‑ray, CT, and MRI to:
  • Confirm which vertebra(e) are fractured
  • Check for old vs new fractures
  • Plan needle path and cement volume

Facility accreditation

• Choose an accredited clinic/hospital (Accreditation Canada, CAAASF) with:
  • Modern fluoroscopy (live X‑ray)
  • Emergency protocols and a hospital transfer plan
  • Staff used to spine procedures, not just general day surgery

Rehab integration

• Look for:
  • A simple written recovery plan (walking, lifting limits, posture tips)
  • Guidance on when you can drive, return to school/desk work, and heavier tasks
  • Willingness to share notes with your family doctor and physio

Transparent pricing

• Ask for an itemized quote that separates:
  • Surgeon fee
  • Anaesthesia
  • Facility/OR time
  • Balloons, cement, imaging
  • Extra levels and follow‑up visits

Questions to ask at a kyphoplasty consult

Surgeon and plan

• How many kyphoplasties do you perform each year, and how many like mine (level/number, cause)?
• What are your infection, cement‑leak, and unplanned readmission rates in the last 12–24 months?

Technique and safety

• How do you control cement flow and lower the risk of leakage?
• Will you treat just the worst level or multiple levels? Why?
• Do you routinely use CT/MRI as well as X‑rays to plan?

Recovery and after‑care

• When can I expect to:
  • Walk around the house comfortably?
  • Return to desk‑type school/work?
  • Consider heavier lifting or sport?
• Do you provide a written recovery plan I can share with my GP/physio?
• Who is my post‑op contact (phone/email)? How quickly do you usually reply?

Costs and logistics

• Exactly what is included in my quote (surgeon, anaesthesia, facility, cement/balloons, imaging, first follow‑ups)?
• What could add cost (extra levels, longer OR time, overnight stay, complications)?
• If I’m travelling from another province, which follow‑ups can be virtual? Will I get copies of images and the op note?

Signals of a high‑quality kyphoplasty program

• Shares outcome and complication data openly
• Uses accredited facilities with modern fluoroscopy and clear emergency plans
• Provides itemized, transparent pricing with what’s included/excluded
• Gives a written recovery plan and coordinates with your local doctor/physio
• Encourages questions and explains imaging and options in plain language