Vertebroplasty
Introduction
Osteoporosis is a common cause of spinal compression fracture, which can result in severe pain, limited mobility, spinal deformity leading to reduced height, and decreased overall health. Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat spinal compression fractures that can ease pain, stabilize and strengthen the vertebral body, and help you return to your daily activities.
Description
Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which special cement is injected into the broken vertebral body, filling the spaces within the bone that have been created by degeneration. The procedure is considered for patients with spinal compression fractures because of its many advantages. Vertebroplasty is able to relieve, and in some patients, eliminate the pain associated with compression fractures. It may also reduce your need for pain medication. After vertebroplasty, the treated vertebra is less likely to fracture again, and the pain relief achieved enables many patients to return to their previous level of activity.
Procedure
The vertebroplasty procedure is performed with you lying face down so your doctor can access your spine from your back. You will likely be awake during the procedure but sedated so you do not feel anything. You will also be given a local anesthetic to numb your back.
Because it is a minimally invasive procedure, instead of making a large incision to access your spine your doctor will make a small incision and use a fluoroscope to perform the procedure. A fluoroscope is a special machine that uses X-ray to let your doctor see your spine on a TV screen during surgery. Your doctor will use the fluoroscope to see that the needle through which the cement will be injected is inserted properly in the vertebral body.
The vertebroplasty procedure takes about an hour to treat one vertebra. It is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, and most people are able to go home the same day.
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