Treatment Options

Historically, patients with compression fractures have been treated with conservative therapies including strong pain medications, bed-rest, or external bracing. These treatments can result in long recovery times and disruption of daily life. Vertebroplasty is an alternative to failed conservative treatment for vertebral compression fractures and can take one of two forms: direct-injection or balloon-assisted (a.k.a kyphoplasty).

Direct-injection vertebroplasty and balloon-assisted vertebroplasty involve the injection of bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate) or bioactive composite (Cortoss™ Bone Augmentation Material) into the painful bone in the spine. The composite fixates the fractured bone, eliminating movement and the associated pain much like a cast is used, externally, on a broken arm. Most patients return to normal, routine activity within a few days. Although the complication rate with direct-injection or balloon-assisted vertebroplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most procedures, there are associated risks, including some that are quite serious. Consult with your doctor for a full discussion of the risks.