Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures

Abstract

Abstract
Vertebral compression fractures are burdensome to patients because of associated pain, decreased quality of life, and an increased mortality risk. Treatment options include conservative, non-operative care or vertebral body augmentation (VBA). Two types of VBA procedure exist: vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. They involve the injection of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement into fractured vertebrae to stabilize the fracture fragments and thereby reduce the incidence of fracture progression and pain severity. While both VBA procedures are associated with high patient-satisfaction rates, cement leakage has been a major problem with classic vertebroplasties. Therefore, the Confidence Spinal Cement System™ (DePuy Spine Inc., US) has been developed to address the need for a system that can deliver high-viscosity cement with accuracy, precision, and control. In this way, the safety and efficacy of the vertebroplasty technique is enhanced.

Keywords
Osteoporosis, vertebral compression fracture, vertebral body augmentation, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, Confidence Spinal Cement System™

Disclosure: Joel D Siegal, MD, is a paid consultant to DePuy Spine.
Received: September 9, 2009 Accepted: September 22, 2009
Correspondence: Joel D Siegal, MD, Commonwealth Neurosurgical Specialists, Jewish Hospital and St Mary’s Healthcare, 100 E Liberty, Suite 202, Louisville, KY 40202. E: joel.siegal@jhsmh.org