Single balloon kyphoplasty using far-lateral extrapedicular approach: technical note and preliminary results

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are a significant cause of pain and disability.
• Traditional kyphoplasty involves a transpedicular approach, which can be associated with complications.
• The far-lateral extrapedicular approach offers an alternative surgical route for OVCF treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the surgical technique of single-balloon kyphoplasty using a far-lateral extrapedicular approach.
• To evaluate the early clinical outcomes and radiographic results of this novel technique in treating OVCFs.

Main Methods:

• A single-center study involving 31 consecutive patients (37 vertebrae) treated with single-balloon kyphoplasty via a far-lateral extrapedicular approach.
• Preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores were used for pain assessment.
• Radiographic assessment included vertebral height restoration and kyphosis correction.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in VAS pain scores in 95% of patients postoperatively (P<0.001).
• Mean vertebral height restoration of 31.72% (anterior body height increased from 60.85% to 81.86%, P<0.007; middle body height from 63.14% to 80.94%, P<0.001).
• Correction of kyphotic deformity from 16.06 to 8.84 degrees (P<0.001) with no surgery or device-related complications.

Conclusions:

• Single-balloon kyphoplasty utilizing a far-lateral extrapedicular approach is a safe and effective treatment for OVCFs.
• This minimally invasive technique achieves comparable therapeutic effects to conventional two-balloon kyphoplasty.
• The procedure demonstrates significant pain relief and vertebral restoration with a low complication rate.