Vertebral Body Augmentation, Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty in Spine Surgery

Book excerpt: This book offers an updated and comprehensive review of the role of vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and augmentation techniques in all fields of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and interventional radiology. Addressing the latest advances in terms of the materials used and combined approaches with other mini-invasive techniques, it reveals how vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and various augmentation techniques could become instrumental to helping patients with specific vertebral compression fractures or other diseases of the vertebral column. The book includes a detailed history of the techniques’ development, descriptions of the materials used in the last twenty years, and extensive information on the biomechanical basis, anatomy and current indications for vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and augmentation. In addition, it highlights representative cases to enhance readers’ understanding of each topic, and particular attention is paid to the innovative evolution of the techniques and to their combination with other mini-invasive approaches, stents and brachytherapy. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable guide for all neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and interventional radiologists whose work involves spine pathologies and their treatment.