Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is a new procedure sometimes done for patients with lower thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression fractures. However, typically vertebral compression fractures do heal over time and can be treated with pain medications, bracing, and/or epidural steroid injections. If these more conservative measures fail, then one can consider doing a vertebroplasty. This requires careful placement of one to two needles into the vertebral body. Slow injection of a special glue containing dye while looking at an x-ray machine is done. If any of the dye goes into a blood vessel or near the epidural space, the procedure may have to be stopped before completed. The procedure does have the risk of paraplegia and possible death, however, it often helps decrease the pain and decrease the amount of pain medications required.