Interventional Radiology

Vertebroplasty

If you have severe back pain caused by osteoporosis, relief may be easier to come by than you think, thanks to a minimally invasive treatment known as vertebroplasty.

This treatment, performed by the experienced interventional radiologists at Tomball Regional Medical Center, can quickly alleviate back pain caused by spinal compression fractures.

Spinal compression fractures happen when one or more of the vertebrae in the spine collapse. Often this is due to the bone-weakening disease osteoporosis. The pain from a fracture is often severe, leaving people unable to perform their normal activities.

In some cases, conservative treatment with pain medications can provide relief. In other cases, surgery is needed. When surgery is necessary, the experts at Tomball Regional often recommend vertebroplasty.

In the procedure, doctors inject sterile cement into the fractured vertebrae. The cement fills the porous spaces in the bones caused by osteoporosis and strengthens the bone so it's less likely to fracture again.

Unlike traditional open surgery, which may require a lengthy recovery period, people who have vertebroplasty can expect to go home a few hours after the procedure, with no restrictions on what they can do.

For more information on vertebroplasty, call Tomball Regional's interventional radiology department at 281.401.7983.