Thanks for the encouragement. Kyphoplasty has been around at least 5 years here locally. About 5 years ago I went to a seminar on it from a local spine surgeon. He said he was normally very conservative but now uses kyphoplasty and has success. I don't know if there are any long term statistics on it. I think it is only used on the upper back. It's supposed repair the vertebra and prevent "widow's hump".