Compression fractures due to osteoporosis occur to quite a great number of people annually. The most frequent among them are hip fractures resulting in prolonged disability and severe pain.
Until recently, physicians had limited therapeutic options to treat spinal fractures. These included analgesics, rest and immobilization to bed, tight spine bandaging and surgical spine fusion. Today there are two minimally invasive techniques treating pain directly and stabilizing the spine. These are spondyloplasty and kyphoplasty.