Kyphoplasty
/ˈkaɪfoʊˌplæsti/noun
A minimally invasive procedure that restores a collapsed vertebra using a balloon and bone cement.
Did you know?The term combines Greek kyphos, meaning “hump” or “stoop,” with a word related to plastic and plaster—both linked to shaping or molding material.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kyphos
“A hump, stoop, or rounded prominence”
Ancient Greek
Greek
plassō
“To mold, shape, or form”
Ancient Greek
Greek
plastikos
“Able to be molded or shaped”
19th Century
Medical English
kyphosis
“An abnormal outward curvature or rounded deformity of the spine”
20th Century
Medical English
-plasty
“A surgical procedure involving repair, reshaping, or reconstruction”
Late 20th Century
English
kyphoplasty
“A procedure for restoring a collapsed vertebra by balloon expansion and injection of bone cement”