Kyphoplasty for salvage of a failed vertebroplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: case report and surgical technique.

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are a significant source of morbidity. Recently described techniques of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have provided consistent successful outcomes in the short term. However, techniques to address the failure of vertebroplasty have not been addressed. We present two cases of failed vertebroplasty that were revised with a kyphoplasty technique. Both patients had near complete resolution of preoperative symptoms and had a significant vertebral height restoration more than 10 months after revision with kyphoplasty. In conclusion, kyphoplasty technique can be utilized to salvage failed vertebroplasty.