Health Library

Vertebroplasty - series

Normal anatomy

The spine is made up of bones, called vertebrae, separated by soft cushions, called intervertebral discs.

Indication

Vertebral fractures occur in thousands of people each year. The main cause of these fractures is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis causes bone to lose strength and become weak and susceptible to fractures.

Procedure

Using a special x-ray machine, a bone needle is guided through the skin and into the fractured vertebra. A cement-like material called polymethylmethacrylate acrylic cement, called PMMA, is injected into the vertebra. The needle is removed and the cement hardens, stabilizing the vertebra.

Aftercare

Vertebroplasty helps to stabilize the vertebral fracture, which in turn helps reduce or eliminate the patient's pain.

Review Date: 9/2/2025  

Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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