Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is used to treat painful vertebral compression fractures in the spinal column, which commonly result from osteoporosis. Vertebroplasty is a procedure that involves the injection of a special cement into a fractured vertebra to relieve spinal pain and restore mobility. The procedure lasts about one hour and is considered minimally invasive because it is performed through a small puncture in the skin instead of an open incision. Vertebroplasty is performed as follows:

• The patient lies face down on a padded table in an X-ray suite or operating room
• The area of the back where the needle will enter is sterilized
• Local anesthesia and light sedation are administered
• Using contrast-enhanced fluoroscopy, a bone biopsy needle is guided into the injured vertebra through a small puncture in the skin
• A specially formulated bone cement (PMMA) is injected directly into the fractured vertebra
• The bone cement fills the cracks within the bone to create a type of internal cast that stabilizes the vertebral bone
• The needle is removed and the cement hardens in about 10 minutes
• The small skin puncture is bandaged
• The patient is monitored for about one hour to ensure no adverse reactions