Vertebral Augmentation Procedures

Vertebral augmentation is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to treat vertebral compression fractures. These are fractures that occur in the vertebrae of the spine, which are the bones that support the upper body. Vertebral compression fractures can cause back pain, height loss, and spinal deformity.

There are different types of vertebral augmentation procedures, such as vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and spinal implant (stentoplasty). The common steps of these procedures are:

• The patient is given sedation or general anesthesia.
• The doctor inserts a needle into the fractured vertebra through a small incision, using X-ray or CT guidance.
• The doctor creates a void or cavity inside the vertebra by inflating a balloon or expanding an implant.
• The doctor fills the void with bone cement to stabilize the fracture and restore the height and alignment of the vertebra.

The benefits of vertebral augmentation include pain relief, improved mobility, reduced risk of complications, and shorter recovery time. The risks of vertebral augmentation include infection, bleeding, nerve damage, cement leakage, pulmonary embolism, and spinal cord injury.