Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are procedures that offer pain relief to patients suffering from painful compression fractures in the spine. The procedures involve injecting bone cement into the vertebrae through a needle to stabilize fractures.
How is it done?
The patient is given IV sedation and a local anesthetic is used in the skin around the area that is being treated. The physician locates, under fluoroscopy, the vertebrae that will be treated. Special needles are passed into the collapsed vertebrae and then bone cement is injected directly into the collapsed bone.
How long does it take?
The procedure takes approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours to perform depending on how many vertebrae are being treated. Recovery can be up to 4 hours.