Patient Resources
Answering your questions about vertebral augmentation
The information below is designed to answer some of your questions regarding vertebral augmentation, and to help you make informed decisions as you and your doctor determine how to treat your spinal fracture(s).
What is osteoporosis?
- Loss of bone mass/weakening of bone tissue.
- Bone loss can often occur without symptoms.
- Osteoporosis may go undetected until a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture.
How do spinal fractures occur?
- Most commonly caused by osteoporosis.
- May also result from metastatic tumors or even back trauma.
- The pain from these fractures is typically considerable and frequently interferes with daily living.
- Nearly half of the 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures each year are spinal fractures.
What is vertebral augmentation?
- A minimally invasive procedure used to augment or expand vertebrae that have fractured.
- There are two types of procedures: vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Your physician will decide which procedure is appropriate for you.
How does vertebral augmentation work?
- Involves slowly injecting acrylic bone cement into the vertebrae.
- Bone cement is believed to stabilize the vertebrae, providing pain relief and an increased ability to move around.
- Some patients experience immediate pain relief following the procedure. Many patients experience a significant level of pain relief within 24 hours.