[Vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fracture]

Vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fracture has been published to enhance fractured vertebra and to reduce severe pain after the fracture. Bone cement such as Polymethylmethacrylate or calcium phosphate cement has been used for this procedure. However, serious neurological complication and pulmonary embolism might occur following the leakage of the cement. In order to avoid these serious complications, it seems to be important to make an enough space in the vertebral body before injecting bone cement. For this purpose, we utilized balloon inflation and endoscopic resection of connective tissue for pseudoarthrosis following osteoporotic vertebral fracture. With this procedure, severe pain after the fracture improved dramatically. So far, we did not have any serious systemic complications.