the side to side dimension and their a p dimensions are almost equal the height dimensions of the appropriate vertebral body balloon for a given vertebral body is chosen by the ct scan or x ray views of the vertebral bodies above and below the vertebral body to be treated the height of the vertebral bodies above and below the vertebral body to be treated are measured and averaged this average is used to determine the appropriate height dimension of the chosen vertebral body balloon long bones which can be treated with the use of balloons of the present invention include distal radius larger arm bone at the wrist proximal tibial plateau leg bone just below the knee proximal humerus upper end of the arm at the shoulder and proximal femoral head leg bone in the hip for the distal radius a balloon 160 is shown in the distal radius 152 and the balloon has a shape which approximates a pyramid but more closely can be considered the shape of a humpbacked banana in that it substantially fills the interior of the space of the distal radius to force cancellous bone 154 lightly against the inner surface 156 of cortical bone 158 the balloon 160 has a lower conical portion 159 which extends downwardly into the hollow space of.