Systems and methods provide for the fixation of osteoporotic and
non-osteoporotic long bones, especially Colles' fractures. A cannula
having a circumferential opening is inserted into cancellous bone and
directed such that the circumferential opening faces the fracture. The
cannula is further adapted to receive an expandable structure, the
expandable structure being inserted through the cannula until it is in
registration with the circumferential opening. The expandable structure
is expanded through the circumferential opening into cancellous bone and
toward the fracture. The expansion of the expandable structure through
the circumferential opening toward the fracture causes compression of
cancellous bone and moves fractured cortical bone, thus creating a cavity
proximal to the fracture. The cavity is then filled with a flowable bone
filling material and the material allowed to harden.