Largely due to their capacity to provide immediate pain relief in osteoporotic compression fractures and neoplastic disease of the spine, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have become popular techniques in recent years. These procedures require minimal incisions and can be performed without general anesthesia, which adds to their appeal. This is the first book to cover everything that is currently known about vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, including patient selection, operative techniques, complication avoidance, management, outcomes, and more! You will find extensive discussions of the role of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in acute fractures, non-osteoporotic pathological compression fractures, and burst fractures. A multidisciplinary panel of spine surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and interventional radiologists provide their unique perspectives, along with comparisons of techniques and potential complications to help you select the right procedure for a particular patient.Filling a significant gap in literature, this exceptional work provides a "snapshot" of these modern surgical techniques, with practical guidelines on using them to provide optimal patient care. It is a state-of-the-art resource for all informed spine surgeons, radiologists, and neurosurgeons.*Message from AANS and Thieme: Participants using this book to apply for CME credit now have until January 31, 2010 to complete and pass the Home Study Examination (available online from the AANS - see CME Credit Information page for more information).(A co-publication of Thieme and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons)