Do you need a referral for kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty is a procedure used in selected cases of a compressed vertebra. A referral allows a spine surgeon or interventional radiologist to review scans, the timing and pattern of pain, neurological symptoms, bone strength, and other health conditions. The team may discuss pain management, bracing, physiotherapy, or observation as alternatives. They also need to establish whether the fracture is stable and whether symptoms could instead be coming from nerve compression, infection, or another spinal problem.

Contact your primary-care doctor or the clinician managing the fracture and ask for referral to an appropriate spine service. Take imaging discs or reports, the injury history, medicine list, and information about osteoporosis treatment. Tell the clinician if pain prevents turning in bed, standing, or walking. Ask the receiving service whether additional imaging or blood tests are needed before the consultation and whether any insurer approval applies.

Seek emergency care for new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, worsening leg weakness, inability to walk, severe pain after a fall, fever with back pain, or unexplained severe spinal pain. These features can indicate a problem requiring immediate assessment and should not wait for a routine referral.

Ask what the scans show, why kyphoplasty is being considered, what non-procedure options remain, how bone health will be addressed, and which changes require urgent review.