Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty

The team of the Lower Silesian Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Neurosurgery KCM Clinic in Jelenia Góra specializes in minimally invasive and endoscopic surgical treatment of cervical, lumbar and thoracic spine diseases. A rupture or fracture in the spinal cord may be caused by osteoporosis or an injury to the spine. The disease causes a lot of back pain in patients, which requires intervention. One of the minimally invasive methods of treatment is vertebroplasty of the vertebral body.

What is vertebroplasty?

Vertebroplasty is a procedure where a special cement is injected into a damaged or broken vertebral bone to alleviate pain. This treatment is frequently utilized to treat compression fractures, which are a type of injury caused by the weakening of bones due to osteoporosis, a condition that is prevalent in older individuals. While not all compression fractures cause discomfort and don’t require treatment, if one experiences ongoing or severe pain, vertebroplasty might be a solution.

What is the purpose of the procedure?

Vertebroplasty is a procedure that aims to relieve pain caused by compression fractures in the spine. These fractures often occur when the spinal bones are weakened by conditions like osteoporosis or cancer, leading to cracks or breaks that can cause persistent pain. The procedure involves injecting a special cement into the affected vertebral bone to help stabilize it and provide pain relief.

What can be expected during the procedure?

For the procedure, you will need to wear a hospital gown and have a thin, flexible tube inserted into a vein in your arm or hand. The type of anesthesia used will depend on the specifics of the procedure and the number of spinal bones being treated. General anesthesia is an option for putting you in a sleep-like state during the procedure, but in most cases, sedation with drugs to make you relaxed and sleepy is sufficient.

You will lie facedown and receive local anesthetic injections to numb the skin. The procedure usually lasts about an hour, although it may take longer if more than one spinal bone requires treatment. Special imaging techniques such as X-rays or CT scans are used to guide the needle into the correct position, and the cement hardens in 20 minutes. If the fracture was caused by cancer, a small sample of bone tissue may be taken for testing and radiation therapy may be administered before or after the procedure.

What can be expected after the procedure?

For the majority of individuals who undergo vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, the procedure is completed on an outpatient basis and they are able to return home the same day. It is important to arrange for someone else to drive you home.

The injection site on your back where the needles were inserted may experience some discomfort for a few days, which can be relieved through the use of an ice pack, although it is important to protect your skin from direct contact with the ice by covering it with a cloth. It is recommended to use ice for 15 minutes every hour.

It is also advised to avoid heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks post-procedure.