Balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures

4 Other NICE recommendations on balloon kyphoplasty

Further recommendations have been made as part of the NICE guideline on metastatic spinal cord compression published in November 2008, as follows:

Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty should be considered for patients who have vertebral metastases and no evidence of MSCC or spinal instability if they have either:

Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for spinal metastases should only be performed after agreement between appropriate specialists including an oncologist, interventional radiologist, and spinal surgeon, and in facilities where there is good access to spinal surgery.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness evidence was reviewed in the development of this guideline which has led to this more specific recommendation. More information can be found in the NICE guideline on metastatic spinal cord compression in adults. The intervention procedure guidance on balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures remains current, and should be read in conjunction with the clinical guideline.