What is vertebroplasty?
Vertebroplasty is a pain treatment offered at the California Imaging Institute for
compression fractures of the spinal column that fail to respond to conventional
medical therapy, such as minimal or no pain relief with analgesics or narcotic doses
that are intolerable.
Vertebroplasty stabilizes the collapsed vertebra with the injection of medical-grade
bone cement into the spine. This improves pain, and can prevent further collapse of
the vertebra, thereby preventing the height loss and spine curvature commonly seen
as a result of osteoporosis.
Vertebroplasty dramatically improves back pain within hours of the procedure,
provides long-term pain relief and has a low complication rate as demonstrated in
multiple studies.
It is very important for someone with persistent spinal pain lasting more than three
months to consult an interventional radiologist, and people who require constant
pain relief with narcotics should seek help immediately.
What causes compression fractures?
Osteoporosis is the predominant cause of compression fractures of the spine.
Osteoporosis is called a "silent disease," because bone loss occurs without
symptoms. People may not know why they have osteoporosis until their bones become
so weak that a simple strain, twist of the body, bump or fall causes a bone
fracture. Fractures may occur in the hip, wrist, ribs or elsewhere, but the most
common site of fracture is in the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spinal
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Who is at risk?
Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis include:
- Being female
- Being thin or having a small frame
- Advanced age
- A family history of osteoporosis
- Being postmenopausal
- Abnormal absence of menstrual periods
- Anorexia or bulimia
- A diet low in calcium
- Long-term use of medications such as cortico-steroids or anticonvulsants
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking
- Excessive use of alcohol
Who is a candidate for vertebroplasty?
People who have suffered recent fractures that are causing severe back pain despite
standard therapy with rest and pain medications are the best candidates for
vertebroplasty.
Older fractures may be treated, but the procedure is most successful if it is
performed within one year of when the fracture occurs. Chronically painful
fractures causing pain for months to years are also very frequently treated with
excellent results. The procedure is not used to treat arthritis or herniated discs.
For more information please call the California Imaging Institute at
559.325.5800.
To learn more about compression fractures and vertebroplasty or Interventional
Radiology, please visit the Society of Interventional Radiology at
www.SIRweb.org.
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