Vertebral cementoplasty, also called vertebroplasty, is an operation that involves injecting cement into a vertebra to repair a fracture or relieve pain. It is an interventional radiology technique.

Vertebral cementoplasty, or vertebroplasty, is a surgical operation that involves inserting an orthopedic cement, made of resin, into the vertebrae, in order to relieve the patient’s pain, or in the case of tumors. It is therefore above all a palliative care, intended to improve the patient’s comfort of life.

The idea is that by inserting this resin, the damaged vertebrae are solidified, while relieving the patient’s pain. In fact, the cement introduced will destroy some of the nerve endings responsible for pain.

This cement is a simple preparation of a few milliliters, prepared by the hospital.

Cementoplasty therefore has two effects:

• Reduce pain
• Repair and consolidate fragile vertebrae, consolidate fractures.

This operation is fairly benign and does not require long hospitalization (two or three days).

Preparing for a vertebral cementoplasty

Vertebral cementoplasty, unlike many surgeries, requires a significant amount of cooperation from the patient. He must indeed remain motionless for a certain period of time. These recommendations will be explained to you in detail by your doctor.

What duration of hospitalization?

A vertebral cementoplasty requires a brief hospitalization, the day before the operation. It requires contact with a radiologist as well as an anesthesiologist.

The anesthesia is local, except in the case of a multiple operation. The operation lasts on average one o’clock.

The operation in detail

The operation takes place under fluoroscopic control (which improves the precision of the injection), and takes place in several stages:

• The patient must remain motionless, in the position which will be most pleasant: most often face down.
• The skin is disinfected at the targeted level, a local anesthesia is applied to it.
• The surgeon begins by inserting a hollow needle into the vertebrae. It is in this needle that the cement made up of acrylic resin will circulate.
• The cement then spreads through the vertebrae, before becoming rigid after a few minutes. This step is followed by fluoroscopy to measure its accuracy and minimize the risk of leakage (see “possible complications”).
• The patient is escorted back to the recovery room, before being discharged from the hospital the next day.

Spinal pain

Fragile vertebrae are a source of pain for affected patients. Spinal cementoplasty relieves them.

Tumors or cancers

Tumors or cancers may have developed in the body, cementoplasty helps to alleviate the harmful effects, such as spinal pain.

In fact, bone metastases appear in about 20% of cancer cases. They increase the risk of fractures, as well as bone pain. Cementoplasty makes it possible to reduce them.

osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease which also affects the vertebrae and damages them. Vertebral cementoplasty treats the vertebrae, especially by consolidating them to prevent future fractures, and relieves pain.

The results of the operation

Patients quickly notice a decrease in pain.

For patients with bone pain, this reduction in the feeling of pain makes it possible to reduce the intake of analgesic (painkillers) drugs, such as morphine, which improves the quality of daily life.

Un scanner as well as an exam IRM (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) will be performed in the following weeks to monitor the patient’s state of health.

Possible complications

Like any operation, errors or unforeseen events are possible. In the case of vertebral cementoplasty, these complications are possible:

• Cement leak

  During the operation, injected cement can “leak”, and come out of the target vertebra. This risk has become rare, especially thanks to serious radiographic control. Left unchecked, they can lead to pulmonary embolisms, but most of the time they do not trigger any symptoms. Therefore, do not hesitate to discuss this with your doctor during the period of hospitalization.

• Post-operative pain

  After the operation, the effects of the painkillers wear off, and severe pain may appear in the operated area. This is why the patient remains hospitalized to control and relieve them.

• Infections

  A risk inherent in any operation, even if it has become very low.