Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Vertebral Compression Fractures - Dr. Suresh B Babu
At City and Sandwell Hospitals, we have been performing this procedure and would like inform you about this procedure and benefits. This is done in Radiology dept by Interventional Radiologists.
Proven to be a safe and effective procedure by many studies and approved by NICE, Vertebroplasty provides significant benefit to your patients with vertebral fractures. Most of these patients tend to get better over a period of time, but substantial number of patients would be left with considerable pain on long term analgesics. Vertebroplasty is effective for these patients with perisistent pain on Analgesics. The fracture or compression could be due to Osteoporosis(many of them), Metastases, Myeoma or Trauma.
When we audited the patients who has had the Vertebroplasty done in our hospitals, none encountered any complications and there was a significant relief from the pain. Additionally patients could cut down their analgesics consumption(with reduced side effects) and their quality of life is increased. Other benefits are reduced drug costs, reduced patient admissions, reduced patient morbitidities(adverse drug events, DVT other fractures etc.)
Facts about Vertebroplasty(Refashioning the Vertebrae)
Aim: To treat the pain associated with Vertebral collapse fractures
Alternatives: Surgery to remove the vertebra with spine stabilisation or to live with pain and painkillers (high risk of complications and enormous cost)
Acceptable: 100% of Patients interviewed would have this procedure again. Acceptable Risks. Acceptable to NICE
Budget: Very cost effective procedure (cuts down the cost of long-term Painkillers). Cost around £500-1000.
Effective: More than 90% of people said complete or significant reduction of their pain. Not many procedures can claim this rate of success.
Prevalence: Vertebral fractures are very common. This procedure is also used for cancer invasion causing pain or any tumours.
Procedure: A needle into the Vertebrae. Then special bone cement is injected into it. This is done under conscious Sedation as a Day case.
Issues: Adjacent fractures due to strengthened bone or spillage of cement while injecting. Complications are far and few in between.
Main Thing: Increase in quality of Life. Cuts down Adverse effects and complications.
We have given you a brief review of the procedure but if you have any questions, contact us. Suresh.Babu@swbh.nhs.uk or 07914361248.
Caption: CT scan shows the results of Vertebroplasty with filling of cement(white) within the collapsed thoracic vertebra. Please note other fractures lower done. Only symptomatic fractures need treating.
Caption: Pictorial representation of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty
Dr Suresh B Babu
Consultant Interventional Radiologist
City Hospital, Dudley Road
Birmingham, United Kingdom
B18 7QH
0044-789-4856490
suresh@drsureshbabu.com