Balloon kyphoplasty for traumatic thoracolumbar wedge compression fractures without neurological deficit: a case series of 12 patients

Abstract

Background: Balloon kyphoplasty is well established for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Its use in traumatic, non-osteoporotic thoracolumbar wedge compression fractures without neurological deficit is less understood, especially across a wide age range. Case series: We reviewed 12 patients (9 male, 3 female; mean age 44.9 years, range 17–75) who underwent percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty for acute traumatic thoracolumbar wedge compression fractures (D6–L2) without neurological deficit at a single center between July 2025 and January 2026. Seven patients underwent a unipedicular approach, and five had a bipedicular approach, depending on the surgeon’s discretion. The mean pre-operative visual analogue scale (VAS) was 5.2 (range 4–6); all patients had a VAS of 1 and were able to walk unaided by post-operative Day 1. One patient (8.3%) had an asymptomatic cement leak that did not affect the nerves. The average length of stay was 2 days. At a mean follow-up of 9.5 months (range 6–12), all patients had a VAS of 0, could walk fully, and showed stable vertebral height on imaging. Conclusion: balloon kyphoplasty, performed with either a unipedicular or bipedicular approach, provided quick pain relief, early mobility, and a low rate of complications in this group of patients with traumatic thoracolumbar wedge fractures ranging from adolescence to old age.