PERCUTANEOUS VERTEBROPLASTY: What is it?
Vertebroplasty was developed in France by Dr. Deramond and his colleagues in 1984. This innovative procedure helps alleviate pain caused by vertebral compression fractures. Vertebroplasty is minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure used to treat the pain associated with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis and tumoral lesions (metastases, myeloma, haemangioma, etc.). Individual vertebra weakened by disease can collapse suddenly under the force of normal daily activity; the resulting pain can be debilitating, causing limited mobility and other significant reductions in quality of life. Vertebral compression fractures used to be treated only with pain medications, bed rest and external bracing. However, these conservative measures are now considered the first line of treatment. If severe pain persists, patients can be referred to a specially-trained Physician for evaluation for vertebroplasty.
During vertebroplasty, the collapsed vertebra is stabilized with specially formulated acrylic bone cement (PMMA - polymethylmethacrylate); in addition to providing pain relief, vertebroplasty can prevent further collapse of the vertebra, height loss and spine curvature.
This procedure is usually performed in local anesthesia placing a special designed needle in the vertebral body. A precise needle positioning is obtained under CT and/or digital Fluoroscopy guidance.
Injection of few ml of cement (from 2 to 4 ml) achieves a new solidity either of the collapsed osteoporotic vertebra or of the soft tumoral tissue with pain decreasing.
For most patients, vertebroplasty provides immediate and lasting relief of the pain related to vertebral compression fractures. Many patients return to their normal activities within only a few days of having the procedure, and most of them report continued relief from pain months and years later.