Vertebroplasty is a minimally-invasive, image-guided, out-patient procedure used to treat the pain associated with vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis and metastatic tumors. During vertebroplasty, one or two bone biopsy needles are inserted into the collapsed vertebra through a small incision in the patient’s back. The stylet is then removed, and specially formatted acrylic bone cement is injected through the cannula to stabilize the fracture. The procedure typically requires a local anesthetic; conscious sedation is sometimes helpful, depending on the patient’s condition.

For most patients, vertebroplasty provides immediate and lasting relief of the pain related to vertebral compression fractures. Many patients return to their normal activities within a few days of having this procedure, and most report continued relief from pain months and years later. In some cases, vertebroplasty can also prevent further collapse of the vertebra, height loss and spine curvature.

Before 1995, the pain associated with compression fractures was treated with analgesics, bed rest and external bracing. However, these conservative measures are now considered only the first line of treatment; for many patients, the pain is severe and continues for weeks or months in spite of this initial treatment. Patient with this condition should be referred to an Interventional Radiologist or Neuroradiologist who is trained in vertebroplasty for an evaluation.

Primary osteoporosis, which is age-related loss of bone density, is the most common etiology of vertebral compression fractures. Fractures may also occur with secondary osteoporosis, resulting from use of therapeutic drugs, such as steroids, anticonvulsants, chemotherapy, and heparin. The use of corticosteroids is also an increasingly common cause of osteoporosis in patients with severe asthma, collagen vascular disease, transplant surgery, and certain types of cancer.

Although men are increasingly at risk, approximately twice as many women are affected by osteoporosis. One in four women develops the disease after the age of 50. Osteoporosis leads to numerous conditions that impair quality of life, including vertebral compression fractures. The severe pain associated with vertebral compression fractures affects between 700,000 and 1 million patients every year in the United States, with estimated direct health costs of $10 to $20 billion.

Current clinical studies show increasing success rates and extremely low complication rates (<3% for osteoporotic patients). More than 100,000 patients have already benefited from this therapy with significant and durable pain relief. Vertebroplasty has become the standard of care for treatment of the pain associated with vertebral compression fractures.