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VERTEBROPLASTY

This pain procedure is done for painful vertebral compression fractures. Bone cement is injected through a needle to fix the fracture. Vertebral augmentation is accomplished by
injecting polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into a vertebral
body via a percutaneously placed cannula.

​Complete pain relief can occur
very early after vertebroplasty

vertebral compression fracture
Why vertebroplasty is done?

Vertebroplasty is done in the following indications.

  • Osteoporotic compression fractures of the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae, not responding to medical management. 

  • Osteolytic metastatic vertebral fracture.

  • Vertebral fracture in Multiple myelomas.

  • Vertebral hemangiomas 
     

How long does a vertebroplasty procedure take? 

It depends upon the number of vertebrae needs to be fixed. A single level usually takes 45 mins to 60 mins. 

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What are the complications of vertebroplasty?

  • Hemorrhage - To prevent hemorrhage in the region, applying pressure and cold packs after the procedure may be helpful.

  • Infection - prophylactic antibiotics are usually administered to prevent this.

  • Cement extrusion, leakage - Anterior leakage is more common but it does not produce any clinical symptom, Leakage of cement into the epidural space may compress the spinal cord and/or nerve roots leading to paralysis, this condition required urgent surgical decompression. 

  • Pulmonary embolism with bone cement. 

  • Fracture of lamina, pedicle. 

  • Rib fracture

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