About

Vertebroplasty is a procedure in which a special medical-grade cement mixture is injected into a fractured vertebra. The vertebrae are the small bones that make up the spine. When they become fractured, you will experience severe pain and a loss of mobility. When vertebroplasty is successful, the cement mixture injection stabilizes the vertebra and allows you to return to normal activity after a recovery period.

D-12 level vertebral compression fracture due to osteoporosis

Indications

  • Vertebral compression fracture
  • Osteoporosis
  • Vertebral body metastasis

Contraindications

  • Posterior wall of spine is fractured
  • Infection
  • Hematoma
  • Trauma with instability of spine

Procedure Details

These are the typical steps in a vertebroplasty procedure

  • The procedure usually takes place in operation theater set up with all aseptic and antiseptic precautions.
  • Depending on your needs, the doctor will give you sedation medication to relax you and keep you calm during the procedure.
  • Mostly this procedure done under local anaesthesia, If you are in severe pain, general anaesthesia may be required.
  • We will use a continuous X-ray to guide the needle into your body to perform the procedure.
  • We introduce the wide bore needle into the fractured bone.
  • We slowly inject the medical grade cement mixture into the vertebra.
  • Depending on how the cement enters the vertebra, a second injection might be needed to completely fill it.
  • After the procedure, you will be probably lie flat on your back for 1 hour while the cement hardens.
Introduction of wide bore cannula inside fractured vertebral body
Injection of medical grade cement inside fractured vertebral body
Injected medical-grade cement into the fractured vertebral body.

After The Procedure

  • Once the procedure is complete and the cement has hardened, you will likely remain in an observation room for an additional 1 hour to 2 hours. This will allow the doctor to make sure that the procedure was successful.
  • You will then likely be able to stand and walk with little or no pain. You may experience pain relief almost immediately after the procedure, but for some people it takes up to 72 hours.
  • Your doctor may provide you with over-the-counter pain relievers to help ease the discomfort.
  • Before you are discharged from the hospital, the doctor will probably perform an assessment of your pain and check for any possible complications.
  • You can also expect a follow-up office visit in the coming weeks to make sure that the procedure has continued to be successful for you. Sometimes your doctor may want to continue to brace your back after the procedure.

Complications

  • Haemorrhage
  • Blood loss
  • Rib or other surrounding bone fractures
  • Infection
  • Nerve root irritation
  • Flow of cement outside of the bone before it hardens
  • Spinal cord compression if posterior wall of spine is fractured
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