Vertebroplasty Surgery

A vertebroplasty surgery is used to treat compression fractures in your spine. Your vertebrae are the bones that make up your spinal column. They surround and protect your spinal cord. When one of your vertebra fractures, it collapses and can narrow the area around your spinal cord. This can lead to pain. In a vertebroplasty, your doctor injects an acrylic cement mixture into the fractured vertebra. The cement mixture fills in and strengthens the fractured vertebra to relieve pain.

A vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure. Your doctor may only consider this procedure if other options with less risk of complications have failed. These may include bed rest, pain medication, back braces, and physical therapy for several weeks without satisfactory back pain relief. Vertebroplasty is most likely to be successful when used within eight weeks after a vertebral compression fracture.

A vertebroplasty is only one method used to treat a vertebral compression fracture. Discuss all of your different treatment options with your doctor to understand which options are right for you.  

Why is vertebroplasty performed? 

Your doctor may recommend a vertebroplasty to treat vertebral compression fractures in your spine. Vertebral compression fractures occur when your vertebral bones become weak. 

Your doctor may recommend vertebroplasty to treat the following conditions:

. Malignant or cancerous fracture. Cancerous tumors can weaken your vertebral bones, putting you at risk for vertebral compression fractures.

. Osteoporotic fracture. Osteoporosis leads to a loss of bone mass and bones that are porous. This weakens your bones and puts you at risk for vertebral compression fractures.

. Reinforcement of a vertebral bone or multiple vertebrae before a surgical stabilization procedure.

. Vertebral hemangioma, which is an abnormal overgrowth of blood vessels within a vertebra

. Vertebral osteonecrosis, which is bone death. Osteonecrosis is a rare condition.

. Weakened vertebrae when you are too frail or your bones are too weak for open surgical repair.

Risks

Complications after vertebroplasty are uncommon, but any procedure involves risks and potential complications. Complications can develop during the procedure or your recovery. Risks and potential complications of vertebroplasty include: 

. Adverse reaction or problems related to sedation or medications, such as an allergic reaction and problems with breathing

. Bleeding

. Cement leakage into your spinal canal where your spinal cord is located

. Exposure to ionizing radiation, which may be harmful in excessive doses. Your care team follows strict standards for X-ray techniques and will use the lowest amount of radiation possible to make the best images.

. Increased back pain

. Infection

. Nerve or blood vessel damage

. Paralysis (rare) or weakness

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