Glossary

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Balloon kyphoplasty: Similar to a technique known as vertebroplasty, balloon kyphoplasty repairs fractured vertebrae and relieves pain by injecting acrylic cement into the bone to help stabilize it. During balloon kyphoplasty, however, a small orthopedic balloon is inserted into the vertebrae and inflated with liquid. This additional step helps to restore the natural shape and height of the bone. The balloon is then deflated and removed, creating a cavity into which the bone cement may be applied in a more controlled way under lower pressure than required by the vertebroplasty procedure.