Vertebroplasty
A cracked bone in the spine can turn simple moves like getting out of bed, reaching into a cabinet or riding in a car into sharp, stabbing pain. When weeks of rest and pain medicine have not helped, vertebroplasty offers a faster path to relief. At MVM Health, our spine specialists guide a single thin needle into the broken bone and fill the cracks with medical-grade cement. The cement hardens in minutes, holding the bone steady so it stops shifting and hurting. Most patients walk out the same day, and many feel a clear difference within the first day or two.
Meet a spine and pain specialist at one of our clinics in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Arizona to find out if vertebroplasty fits your fracture.
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Meet Our Expert Team
Board Certified Expert
At MVM Health — Movement. Vitality. Medicine. — we are committed to providing exceptional pain, vein, and wellness services that empower individuals to reclaim their health and well-being. With our team of Harvard-trained experts, we strive to deliver transformative outcomes that restore comfort, confidence, and quality of life. MVM Health’s mission is to help every patient relieve discomfort, restore motion, and renew life.
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
TARIQ ALFARRA, DO
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL
Rishi Sheth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Carrie Ward, CNP
Franklin University
Kruti Solanki, CNP
Drexel University
Christy Daniels, CNP
Chamberlain University
Heerina Kittel, CNP
Maryville University
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
Rishi Seth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
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What Is Vertebroplasty?
Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that strengthens a fractured vertebra by injecting bone cement directly into it. The vertebrae are the stacked, block-shaped bones that make up your spine. When one cracks or partly caves in, the broken edges rub and shift with every movement, and that motion is what drives the intense pain.
The cement used in vertebroplasty, called PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), has been used in joint replacement surgery for decades. It is injected as a thick paste, flows into the tiny cracks and spaces inside the damaged bone, and sets hard within about 10 to 20 minutes. Once set, it locks the pieces together, much like glue holding a broken piece of pottery in shape.
The key difference from kyphoplasty is that vertebroplasty does not use a balloon. The bone is steadied in its current shape rather than lifted first. This makes the procedure simpler and often shorter, and it works well for fractures where the bone has not collapsed much, or where lost height cannot be regained.
Vertebroplasty is mainly used for painful spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis, tumors or certain injuries. It is usually considered when pain has stayed severe despite rest, a brace and medication, or when pain makes it unsafe to stay in bed.
Where in the Spine Can Vertebroplasty Be Done?
Fractures can happen anywhere along the spine, but they are most common where the spine carries the most load or bends the most. Your specialist confirms the exact level with imaging.
Mid-back (thoracic spine)
The 12 vertebrae behind the chest and ribs are a frequent site of osteoporosis fractures. Pain here may wrap around the ribs and can make deep breathing uncomfortable.
Junction of the mid and lower back
The area where the mid-back meets the lower back, around the bottom of the rib cage, is the single most common site for compression fractures because it takes a lot of strain during bending and lifting.
Lower back (lumbar spine)
The five large vertebrae of the lower back carry much of your upper body weight. Fractures here often hurt most when standing, walking or getting up from a chair. Learn more about back pain.
Base of the spine (sacrum)
The sacrum, the triangle-shaped bone at the base of the spine, can develop small stress fractures with osteoporosis. A related procedure called sacroplasty places cement into this bone to ease buttock and low back pain.
Common Conditions Vertebroplasty Treats
Osteoporosis fractures
Fragile, thinning bone can crack from very little force. These are the fractures vertebroplasty treats most often.
Painful fractures that are not healing
When a fracture stays painful after 4 to 6 weeks of rest, bracing and medication, cement can steady the bone and end the painful motion.
Multiple myeloma
This blood cancer often weakens many spinal bones at once. Vertebroplasty can ease pain and support bones affected by it. See our page on spinal tumors.
Cancer that has spread to the spine
Breast, lung, prostate and other cancers can spread to the vertebrae. Cement can help reduce pain and the risk of further collapse, often alongside cancer treatment.
Painful spinal hemangiomas
These common, non-cancerous blood vessel growths inside a vertebra rarely cause problems, but when they do, cement can strengthen the bone.
Fractures with little collapse
When a fracture has kept most of its height, there is little to lift, so the simpler vertebroplasty approach is often a good fit.
Sacral insufficiency fractures
Small stress fractures in the sacrum from bone thinning can cause deep buttock and low back pain, and may be treated with sacroplasty.
Fractures with kyphosis risk
Steadying a painful fracture early can help limit further forward rounding of the upper back. See our page on kyphosis.
Risk Factors
Your chances of a vertebral fracture go up if you:
- Have low bone density, especially if you have already been told you have osteoporosis
- Are over 60, or have gone through early menopause
- Have a family history of osteoporosis or a parent who broke a hip
- Take medicines that thin bone, such as long-term steroids, some seizure medicines or some breast and prostate cancer treatments
- Have a condition that affects bone, such as rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid or celiac disease
- Are not very active, or have lost muscle strength and balance
- Fall often or have trouble with vision, dizziness or steadiness on your feet
Symptoms
Not every fracture announces itself, but painful ones often cause:
- Back pain that started suddenly, sometimes with a "pop" or after a small strain
- A sharp, deep ache focused on one spot of the spine
- Pain that spikes with sitting up, standing, coughing or turning in bed
- Relief only when lying flat and still
- Muscle spasms in the back around the painful area
- Gradual loss of height, or a curve developing in the upper back
- Trouble doing everyday tasks such as dressing, cooking or carrying light bags
When Pain Needs Urgent Care
Vertebroplasty is a scheduled procedure. Some symptoms mean you need emergency care first. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if back pain comes with:
- Weakness, numbness or heaviness in one or both legs
- Difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels
- Loss of feeling between the legs or around the buttocks
- Back pain after a high-force injury, such as a car crash or a fall from a ladder
- Fever, shaking chills or sweating at night with back pain
- Severe pain that does not ease at all with rest or lying down
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting
These can signal pressure on the spinal cord, an unstable break, infection or another emergency.
Book a pain evaluation
Other Treatment Options
The right care for a spinal fracture depends on its age, its stability, how much pain it causes and why your bones are weak. Your specialist may combine several of these options.
Conservative care
Epidural steroid injections
Anti-inflammatory medicine is placed near irritated spinal nerves to ease pain that radiates into an arm or leg, such as from a herniated disc or stenosis.
Facet joint injections and nerve blocks
Medicine is placed in or near the small joints of the spine to ease arthritis pain. A positive response also helps confirm where the pain starts.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Controlled heat quiets the small nerves that carry pain signals from arthritic spine joints. It’s often considered after a successful nerve block.
Spinal cord stimulation
A small device sends mild electrical pulses that change how pain signals reach the brain. It’s used for long-term pain that hasn’t responded to other care, and it starts with a short trial.
PRP and regenerative medicine
Platelets from your own blood may support healing in some joint and soft-tissue conditions. Your provider will tell you whether it’s a reasonable option for you.
Getting the Most From Your Vertebroplasty
The cement holds the bone, but the habits you build afterward protect your whole spine.
Callout: Call our office right away if you have new chest pain or shortness of breath, fever, drainage at the needle site, or new leg numbness or weakness after your procedure.
Rest briefly, then move. Lie flat for the time your care team advises after the procedure, then start short walks around your home that same day.
Expect some soreness. The needle site may ache for a few days. A cold pack and the pain relief your provider recommends usually help.
Ease back into your routine. Light tasks are usually fine within a day or two. Wait for your provider’s okay before lifting, gardening, golfing or other strenuous activity.
Work on posture and balance. Gentle back-extension and balance exercises, ideally with a physical therapist, help you stand taller and lower your risk of falls.
Fuel your bones. Eat foods rich in calcium and protein, and ask whether you need vitamin D. Limit alcohol and stop smoking if you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will likely need a recent MRI or CT scan and basic blood work. Tell us about all your medicines, especially blood thinners, which may need to be paused. Plan to fast for a few hours before and arrange a ride home.
Most patients receive local numbing medicine plus sedation through an IV, so they feel relaxed and drowsy. General anesthesia is used only in some cases.
The procedure itself often takes 30 to 60 minutes per bone. Including preparation and recovery, plan for about three to four hours in total.
Yes. Several painful levels can often be treated in the same session, depending on your health and how much cement is needed.
There is no strict age limit. Many patients are in their 70s, 80s or older. Because the procedure is short and avoids a large incision, it is often a good option for older adults.
Often, yes. It is commonly used for fractures caused by multiple myeloma or cancer that has spread to the spine. Your MVM Health specialist will coordinate with your cancer care team.
Vertebroplasty works best on fractures that are still healing and painful. An MRI can show whether an older fracture is still active and likely to respond.
Complications are uncommon. Risks include soreness, bleeding, infection, a small amount of cement leaking outside the bone, nerve irritation and, rarely, cement traveling to the lungs. New fractures in nearby bones can also occur.
No. The cement does not set off metal detectors. It shows up on X-rays and CT scans, and you can still have MRI scans in the future.
Most plans, including Medicare, cover vertebroplasty when it is medically necessary. Some need prior approval. Our team confirms your benefits before your procedure date.
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