Pain management in spinal metastases: the role of percutaneous vertebral augmentation

Recent technological advances combined with innovative interventional radiology techniques can now offer an alternative less invasive treatment option for many patients with malignant vertebral body infiltration. Percutaneous vertebral augmentation procedures offer less invasive but effective pain relief to many patients with symptomatic spinal metastatic disease. The procedures are image guided and involve the injection of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement into the effected vertebral body. This technique can also be combined with radiofrequency ablation, which may accelerate vertebral stability. In this review, we examine the recent literature surrounding this topic and provide an overview of these emerging techniques.