Percutaneous vertebroplasty is the injection of acrylic bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate; PMMA) into the vertebral body through a trocar needle in order to relieve pain and/or stabilize the fractured vertebra and in some cases, restore vertebral height. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is usually performed under conscious sedation with local anesthetic
Vertebral compression fractures are a common cause of pain and disability.
Percutaneous vertebroplasty may provide pain relief for patients with vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis, but may also provide relief for patients with vertebral hemangiomas and pathological fractures from vertebral body tumors.
Evidence indicates that percutaneous vertebroplasty is efficacious for the treatment of pain associated with vertebral compression fractures and symptomatic hemangiomas.
Percutaneous vertebroplasty appears safe with a low complication rate, although if complications occur, they can be major, including pulmonary embolism and spinal cord compression caused by extravasation of cement into the spinal canal.