Vertebroplasty for Spinal Fractures - Benefits of Vertebroplasty | Spine Health

Vertebroplasty for Spinal Fractures - Benefits of Vertebroplasty | Spine Health

Spinal fractures are serious injuries that affect mobility and cause extreme pain. They can severely impact nerve function and reduce overall quality of life. These fractures occur when vertebrae in the spinal column crack or become displaced. This is often due to traumatic accidents, osteoporosis, cancer, hyperthyroidism or infections. Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure to treat spinal fractures when conservative treatments, i.e. bed rest and immobilization, have failed. During the procedure, medical-grade bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae, stabilizing the spine and relieving pain. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and sedation. The procedure offers rapid pain relief and restores mobility. Vertebroplasty is often used to treat patients who are elderly and have osteoporosis-related spinal fractures. While the procedure is beneficial in terms of quick recovery and reduced pain, it carries some risks. The potential complications caused by vertebroplasty include cement leakage and possible infections. However, for most patients, vertebroplasty offers a path to pain relief and improved quality of life.

A broken spine, or spinal fracture, is a serious traumatic injury. It affects mobility and can have a debilitating effect on nerve function and overall quality of life. Spinal fractures occur when one or more vertebrae in the spinal column crack, shatter or become displaced due to impact, osteoporosis or other conditions like cancer, hyperthyroidism, infection and long-term steroid use.  Spinal fractures are most common in car accidents, sports injuries and accidental falls. Spinal fractures are classified into 3 categories based on the location of the injury – Cervical spine fracture (neck), thoracic spine fracture (upper back) and lumbar spine fracture (lower back). Spinal fractures are dangerous and require emergency medical attention.

A Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure to treat a spinal fracture. The aim of the vertebroplasty is to relieve pain and restore spinal mobility. During a vertebroplasty, a special medical-grade cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae to repair the injury. This is done using real-time X-ray visualization technology. The cement sets and stabilizes the broken vertebrae. This restores its structural integrity and enables the patient to move around independently through regained use of the spine. A vertebroplasty is performed when the conservative course of treatment for a fracture (i.e. best rest, immobilization and physical therapy) is ineffective or if a longer recovery period is dangerous to the patient’s life. Vertebroplasties are also performed to treat multiple myeloma on the spine. Many patients experience rapid reduction in pain, improved posture and a better overall quality of life.

Vertebroplasty is usually performed under sedation and local anaesthesia. However, in more complex cases (like when multiple vertebrae are involved), general anaesthesia may be required. Before the procedure, an X-ray is taken to plan the surgical strategy. Once the patient is under sedation, a continuous X-ray is used to identify the precise location of the cracks in the vertebrae. The needle is manoeuvred into the fracture. A special medical-grade cement is then slowly injected into the crack. A second injection may be required to fill in the gaps completely. The vertebroplasty procedure usually lasts 1 to 2 hours. However, the duration of the procedure can vary a lot depending on the extent of the injuries. After the injections, the patient is asked to lay still for an hour while the cement sets. The set cement stabilizes the vertebrae and restores mobility. The patient may have to continue wearing a back brace for a short time after the surgery, but it is usually not necessary. The patient will be recommended physical therapy after the surgery to regain a full range of motion of the spine.

Before the procedure, you will have a consultation with your spine specialist. The doctor will brief you about the procedure and any specific risks you may face. This is a good time to ask the doctor all your questions and get clarity from an informed authority. Always inform your surgeon if you could be pregnant and give them details of all the regular medication you take for any other underlying conditions. For a few days before the procedure, you may be asked to avoid medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen etc. These medicines are avoided as they can make it harder for the blood to clot. On the day of the procedure, you may be asked to avoid eating or drinking anything for a few hours prior to the vertebroplasty. The nurses will brief you on any other precautions or steps to be taken to prepare yourself for the procedure. It is a good idea to bring a loved one with you to the hospital to take care of you and give you company immediately after the procedure, and to take you home once you are discharged. You will also need to plan to take at least a week off work and your regular schedule to rest and recuperate.

Most patients who undergo vertebroplasty are discharged from the hospital on the same day of the procedure, or the next day at most. The points on your spine where the cement is injected may be a bit sore. You can apply ice at intervals to these areas to relieve soreness. The patient is recommended bed rest for about 24 to 48 hours. After this, you can slowly resume normal activities, but do take it easy. Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting. Applying too much pressure on the spine can cause problems so be careful. Many patients also benefit from physiotherapy to regain full mobility of the spine. In some cases, the spine specialist may ask you to continue wearing a back brace, for some additional support, for a few days. Please ensure that you follow the doctor’s instructions carefully, and attend all follow-up appointments.

Vertebroplasty procedures have numerous benefits such as:

Quick pain relief – Most patients experience a significant reduction in pain within 48 hours the procedure. The repair is quicker than the normal fracture re-growth rate, reducing the amount of time spent dealing with the pain and discomfort.

Immediate stabilization of the spine – The vertebroplasty reinforced the fractured vertebrae with special bone cement. This sets in an hour and provides immediate stabilization to the spine, reducing the risk of further injury.

Minimally invasive Procedure – The vertebroplasty procedure is performed through minimally invasive, image guided techniques. This makes it a very precise intervention. The risk of post-operative infection and general anaesthesia are also eliminated.

Fast Recovery – Since the vertebroplasty is minimally invasive, there is no damage to surrounding tissue. This drastically speeds up healing and recovery. Most patients can resume light activity soon after the procedure and can recover fully within weeks.

Reduced dependence on Pain medication – When the spine fracture is treated with conservative treatments, the patient is given a lot of pain medication over time to keep them comfortable. This long-term use of pain medication can lead to dependence. Vertebroplasty helps avoid this.

As with any medical procedure, vertebroplasty carries some minor risk of complications such as:

Cement leakage – In rare cases, the cement injected into the fractured vertebrae can leak into undesirable spaces before it has set. This can cause complications if the displaced cement pushes on the spinal cord or nerves. Tiny pieces of the leaked cement could also break off and enter the bloodstream, which could be fatal.

Infection – There is a very small chance of infection and bleeding at the injection site. The chance of infection appears to be less than 1 in 1000 cases though.

Allergic reaction – The patient may develop an allergic reaction to the cement or the medications used in the procedure.

Additional fractures – Some patients develop additional fractures in the adjacent vertebrae after vertebroplasty. This usually causes the pain to recur after a few days.

Professional and Talented Doctors. Good (spinal surgery) treatment done by the Spinal team. Special thanks to Dr. P. Keerthivasan, Dr. G. Balamurali and their team.
– Prafful Lalwani

Vertebroplasty is not a blanket treatment for all types of spinal fractures. It is generally not recommended to patients who are young or otherwise have good baseline health. This is largely because there is limited knowledge on how the cement behaves when it stays in the body for longer time periods like multiple decades. Younger patients also tend to heal faster than elderly patients with osteoporosis, so for the most part they are not recommended this procedure. This procedure is also not recommended for patients who have herniated discs, or spinal stenosis.

At Kauvery Hospital, with branches in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy, our team of skilled specialists is committed to providing advanced treatments like vertebroplasty to effectively manage spinal fractures. We focus on ensuring rapid pain relief and enhanced mobility to improve your quality of life.

What is vertebroplasty?
Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure where medical-grade cement is injected into fractured vertebrae to stabilize the spine and relieve pain.

Who is a good candidate for vertebroplasty?
Patients with osteoporosis-related spinal fractures or those who do not respond to conservative treatments like bed rest and pain medication are ideal candidates.

How long does it take to recover from vertebroplasty?
Most patients experience significant pain relief within 48 hours and can resume light activities within a few days. Full recovery may take a few weeks.

What are the risks of vertebroplasty?
Potential risks include cement leakage, infection, allergic reactions, or additional fractures in adjacent vertebrae, though these complications are rare.

Is vertebroplasty a permanent solution for spinal fractures?
While vertebroplasty provides long-term relief, it does not prevent future fractures. Proper bone health management is essential to avoid further issues.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 •  Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801