Intervention Services

for Pain Management

Vertebroplasty

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat vertebral compression fractures, most commonly for osteoporotic fractures, but also used for pathologic fractures. The procedure is done with either IV sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the patient.

About the Procedure

• The patient is sedated and the skin anesthetized (anesthetization of subcutaneous tissue to the periosteom).
• The surgeon creates a small pathway into the fractured bone.
• A needle is advanced to the desired location in the space between the compressed vertebral body/bodies.
• The insertion of the needle is done using imaging guidance (bi-plane or c-arm imaging).
• A liquefied cement (opacified methymethacrylate) is then injected in the vertebral body under fluoroscopic monitoring.
• The cement hardens to support the surrounding bone and prevent any further collapse.