The role of vertebroplasty in metastatic spinal disease

Many advances have been made in the treatment of metastatic spinal disease over the last few decades. Radiotherapy offers benefit and pain relief to many patients; however, this modality provides minimal vertebral stabilization. Surgical management consists of decompression and complex fusions. Vertebroplasty offers an adjuvant therapy to both radiotherapy and surgery by providing additional stabilization and pain relief. The results of case studies suggest that including vertebroplasty in the management of these patients is beneficial. In this article the authors review the role of vertebroplasty in metastatic spinal disease.