Vertebroplasty & Kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty

This is a medical spinal repair procedure where bone cement is injected through a small hole in the skin (percutaneously) into a fractured vertebra in order to stabilize it. Vertebroplasty has become a common treatment for painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures, especially older women with osteoporosis, some of whom are stooped and unable to stand up straight. While many doctors and patients report dramatic effects, two randomized, controlled studies failed to find any benefit.

Risks:

Vertebroplasty are considered appropriate non-surgical minimally invasive treatments for many patients who suffer from back pain. Some of the associated risks that can be produced are from the leak of acrylic cement outside of the vertebral body. Although severe complications are extremely rare, it is important to know that infection, bleeding, numbness, tingling, headache, and paralysis may ensue due to misplacement of the needle or cement. This particular risk is decreased by the use of x-ray or other radiological imaging to ensure proper placement of the cement.

Apparently risk factors is highly dependent on the way the compression fractures are sustained. The angle and degree of fractures determine how much chance for leakage and complications.

Here is a video on how it is done:

Kyphoplasty

This is a similary procedure except it inserts a ballon that inflates a damaged vertebra. For more severe fractures.

Mayo Clinic Trials

However, the researches are the Mayo clinic has some things to say about the verteboplasty procedure. Namely there is no certainty about why it works. The issue is that even a placebo treatment works equally as well. Hence does it even do anything for the patient.