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Long-Term Data Confirm Benefit of Vertebroplasty for Back Pain Relief After Osteoporotic Vertebral Collapse
Susan Jeffrey March 31, 2008 — A new analysis of the largest and longest case series to date suggests that percutaneous vertebroplasty is safe and effective for the treatment of vertebral collapse in patients with osteoporosis. Patients, some in...

Most of patients experiencing an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture remain asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic; however, a large number of these patients do experience significant pain resulting in decreased quality of life and disability. Conventional medical treatment for these patients includes pain medication, activity limitation, physical therapy, and possibly, bracing. Vertebroplasty...

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are radiologic procedures for the treatment of the intense pain caused by vertebral compression fracture in patients whose pain has been refractory to medical management or bracing. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty involve the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved intraosseous injection of acrylic cement under local anesthesia...

The August 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) includes reports from a pair of multicenter trials, one in the United States and the other in Australia, that examine the effectiveness of vertebroplasty in reducing pain and pain-related disability in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Both studies...