Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: Cement Based Injection to Treat Vertebral Fracture

Chronic back pain is a leading cause of lost productivity in the United States. From complications associated with a work injury, automobile accident or other form of traumatic event, back injuries take a significant financial, emotional and physical toll on the sufferer.

In an effort to improve back injury complications, especially those associated with vertebral fractures, medical researchers have looked into several chronic back pain treatments in an effort to alleviate not only pain but also restore some degree of mobility and productivity to the back pain sufferer.

One technique making great strides in the improvement of vertebral fractures, is a medical procedure known as percutaneous vertebroplasty. With success, this procedure restores stability to the fractured vertebrae and often is more beneficial than conservative forms of healing and pain management in those with fractured vertebrae.

In the procedure known as percutaneous vertebroplasty, a needle is injected into the fractured vertebrae and a medically enhanced cement solution is injected. This medical cement solution then hardens and restores some degree of stability, alleviating pain associated with surrounding muscle and nerve involvement.

For patients who suffer from osteoporosis, and development vertebral fractures, the use of percutaneous vertebroplasty has proven quite successful in alleviating back pain and restoring function. This procedure, therefore, provides promising hope to the millions of "baby boomers" who will suffer from osteoporosis in the decades to come.

Without percutaneous vertebroplasty, the chronic back pain associated with vertebral fractures is only one aspect of concern. With the risk for developing respiratory and gastrointestinal complications, the risk for developing deep venous thrombosis and the continued loss of productivity, including an inability to work, percutaneous vertebroplasty is restoring a quality of life to the back pain sufferer.

When considering percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of vertebral fractures of the back, there are some surgical risks you should be familiar with. In most patients, these risks are relatively minor and not of significant concern, including hemorrhages, fractures of the rib, irritation of the nerve root and pain after the procedure. In extremely rare cases, the cement of the fracture does not set properly, resulting in the need for spinal decompression surgery.

As with any chronic back pain complication, the key to overcoming the complications lies in the early detection and treatment. When suffering from vertebral fractures, or the risk for development osteoporosis induced fractures, discuss pain management options with your neurosurgeon including the procedure known as percutaneous vertebroplasty.