Percutaneous vertebroplasty: a bone cement procedure for spinal pain relief

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV), a procedure where bone cement is injected into a partially collapsed vertebral body, is used to relieve pain and provide mechanical stability in cases of osteoporosis or tumour infiltration. PV provided rapid pain relief and increased mobility in most patients according to the results from 15 uncontrolled studies in 882 persons where over 1,500 vertebrae were treated. Serious complications from bone cement leaks and adjacent vertebral fractures were rare. Despite the increasing use of PV there are no controlled prospective studies on safety and efficacy with long-term follow-up. Physician and supply costs range from C $300 -600 per vertebra treated. This figure excludes hospital or investigational costs.