Vertebroplasty involves fixing compression fractures with bone cement (PMMA).
Key Benefits
Overnight or outpatient stay
Stabilizes fracture and relieves pain
Proven benefits
Capabilities
Sedation during procedure
In general, intravenous medications are used for sedation similar to that used
during a colonoscopy or a root canal.
Vertebral body after
cement fixation by vertebroplasty.
Although not usually necessary, in some cases, deeper sedation, including general anesthesia may be needed. This should be discussed with your physician as it depends on multiple factors including your medical history, general health status and other issues.
Multiple levels
Many patients present with more than one fracture. In general, Medicare and many private insurance companies will only allow one level to be fixed during a hospital stay. If you still have pain from an untreated fracture afterwards, your physician may perform another procedure to help until the other fracture can be treated.
Other Sites
Vertebroplasty.com -
This site is run by a for-profit medical device company, but has some excellent information about the procedure. It's opinions are not those of MIT.
