Description

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive, day-care procedure performed by specialized orthopedic surgeons or interventional radiologists to stabilize vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). It involves injecting medical-grade bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate) into a collapsed vertebra to reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent further spinal collapse When Orthopedic Doctors Recommend Vertebroplasty • Osteoporotic Fractures: The most common cause, where weak bones collapse, causing severe back pain. • Pathological Fractures: Fractures caused by tumors (benign or malignant). • Persistent Pain: When pain persists despite conservative treatments such as rest, pain medication, and bracing. • Severe Pain Limiting Activity: When the fracture causes disabling pain that severely restricts mobility • Procedure Details • Method: A hollow needle is inserted into the fractured vertebra under local anesthesia and guided by real-time X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy). • Duration: Typically takes 30-60 minutes per vertebra. • Recovery: Patients usually return home on the same day or the following day, often experiencing significant pain relief within hours to days. • Difference from Kyphoplasty: In vertebroplasty, cement is injected directly; in kyphoplasty, a balloon is first used to restore some vertebral height.