A Brief Review of Kyphoplasty Complications: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Abstract

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure primarily used for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs), traumatic fractures, and spinal involvement due to metastatic cancer. Even though kyphoplasty is generally regarded as a safe intervention, physicians should be aware of its potentially serious complications, although they are rare, especially considering the high number of patients who have the procedure done each year. This study aims to review the most significant complications related to kyphoplasty, along with their incidence, risk factors, and preventive strategies. We reviewed relevant articles from PubMed, Google Scholar, and credible sources to write this article. Cement leakage and adjacent vertebral fractures (AVFs) ‒the latter being the most frequent ‒are two of the most serious side effects. There are several ways that cement leakage can occur, including paravertebral (the most common), epidural, intradiscal, pulmonary embolism (PE), and foraminal leakage. It has been demonstrated that the eggshell technique, directional balloon placement, high-viscosity cement, and smaller cement volumes all lower the chance of cement leakage. Two important risk factors for AVFs are intradiscal cement leakage and preexisting osteoporosis in nearby vertebrae. Thus, managing these two elements could help avoid this issue. Achieving the best therapeutic results requires understanding the potential side effects of kyphoplasty and implementing effective management and prevention techniques.