Vertebroplasty

Sudden pain in your middle or upper back is a sign you have a vertebral compression fracture. The team at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida has years of experience treating compression fractures with vertebroplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that restores spinal strength and stability. If you need help with upper back pain, call the office in Delray Beach or Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, or book an appointment online today.

What condition is treated with vertebroplasty?

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure to treat a vertebral compression fracture. A compression fracture develops when the vertebra is too weak to support your body, and the bone suddenly collapses.

While an infection, tumor, or injury can weaken the vertebrae, compression fractures usually occur due to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis develops when you lose bone faster than your body can produce new bone. Throughout your lifetime, your body eliminates old, damaged bone tissue and replaces it with new, strong bone. But as you get older, bone production slows, and you end up with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis causes such weak bones that one or more vertebrae can easily collapse without excessive force. For example, coughing, bending, and twisting may lead to a compression fracture.

What symptoms indicate I need vertebroplasty?

Most people find the first symptom is sudden back pain, usually in your middle to upper back (thoracic spine). Lying down eases the pain, while standing makes it worse. Your movement may also be limited.

If several adjacent vertebrae suffer a compression fracture, you may notice a round curve in your upper back. Over time, you may also lose height as vertebrae collapse.

What happens during vertebroplasty?

The team at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida typically uses a local anesthetic and conscious sedation when performing vertebroplasty. During the procedure, real-time X-ray guidance reveals the bones and helps them insert a small needle into the collapsed disc.

Once the needle is in place, they inject bone cement. As the cement hardens, it strengthens and stabilizes the bone. As a result, your spine regains support and stability, and your pain improves.

Am I a good candidate for vertebroplasty?

Your provider at the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida completes an exam and takes diagnostic imaging to evaluate your spine. Most patients are good candidates for vertebroplasty. However, you may not qualify if:

• The compression fracture has healed
• More than 80-90% of the vertebra collapsed
• You have spinal curvature caused by a condition other than osteoporosis
• You have neurological symptoms caused by another condition
• You have discitis (disc infection and inflammation)
• You have osteomyelitis (bone infection and inflammation)

If you have questions about upper back pain or need to schedule an appointment, call the Brain and Spine Center of South Florida or book online today.