Vertebroplasty in osteoporosis.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is a safe and effective treatment for relieving pain in patients complaining of severe back pain induced by osteoporotic compression fractures. The success rate exceeds 90% and the complication rate is lower than 1%. Most of the complications are transient and should be avoided using good technique. The classic indication for PV is severe, persistent, and incapacitating focal back pain not responding to standard medical therapy and related to one or more collapsed vertebral bodies of 4 to 12 weeks duration. PV should be used earlier in patients at risk of immobilization complications and requiring narcotics. PV should be always considered as a good alternative treatment compared with medical therapy in patients with pain and osteoporotic compression fractures.