Vertebroplasty: Percutaneous Cement Augmentation for Vertebral Fractures

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive image-guided procedure injecting polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement into a fractured vertebral body to stabilize it and relieve pain.

Indications

• Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (painful, subacute)
• Malignant vertebral involvement (myeloma, metastasis)
• Vertebral hemangioma with pain

Technique

Under fluoroscopy/CT, a needle is advanced via transpedicular or extrapedicular approach; low-viscosity cement injected under pressure monitoring.

Risks

• Cement extravasation (venous embolism, neural compression)
• Adjacent-level fracture (altered biomechanics)
• Infection, bleeding

Alternative

Kyphoplasty – balloon tamp creates cavity before cement; may restore height, reduce extravasation.