Anaesthesia for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

SummaryVertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive techniques used in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. Both procedures may be performed under general or local anaesthesia. The patients having these procedures tend to be elderly with significant medical comorbidities, and thorough pre-operative assessment is vital. Intra-operative patient positioning is often challenging. Complications associated with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are serious but occur uncommonly.