[Vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fracture--indications, technique, clinical application]

Patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) had been typically managed with conservative therapy. Since its introduction, percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV), a minimally invasive therapeutic modality, has been widely used for stabilizing osteoporotic VCFs and, subsequently, relieving the associated local back pain. Numerous prospective and retrospective studies on PV have been published, and this therapy, has been reported to have a high clinical success rate. A recent systematic literature review demonstrated the effectiveness of PV in 87% of the subjects in terms of pain relief as well as short- and long-term improvement of function. Despite the apparent lack of evidence, nowadays PV is currently considered an accepted therapy in many centers and acknowledged as a useful additional option for the care of these patients with VCF.