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Spinal Care Treatments

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive spinal procedure used to treat painful fractures or injuries to vertebra, or the small bones that make up the spinal column. When a vertebra fractures, the usual rectangular shape of the bone becomes compressed and distorted, causing pain. These compression fractures, which may involve the collapse of one more vertebrae in the spine, are a common symptom and result of osteoporosis.

Vertebroplasty involves injecting a special cement mixture into the small holes in weakened vertebrae to strengthen the spinal bones making them less likely to fracture again and providing pain relief. Through a small incision and guided by a fluoroscope, a hollow needle passes through the spinal muscles and into the fractured vertebra. Cameras guide the needle to the correct position and then bone cement is injected through the needle into the vertebra. After the procedure, patients lie flat on their backs for a period of time while the cement hardens. They are then discharged and can resume normal activity. The majority of patients have significant pain relief within a few days.