Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is a procedure where a special type of cement is injected into a vertebra after it has been fractured. When the spine has been injured, it is crucial to work as quickly as possible to diagnose the injury. Vertebroplasty is only recommended when all other non-surgical treatment options are exhausted.
Anatomy
Vertebrae are 33 individual bones that interlock to form the spinal column. The vertebrae are categorized into regions:
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacrum
- Coccyx
While each region does have separate features, they have three main parts: body, vertebral arch and processes for muscle attachment. If injured, these vertebrae can create intense pain and decrease mobility.

Description
Vertebroplasty is only recommended if the fracted vertebrae has inferred with the patient’s daily life physically, emotionally or socially. If left untreated, fractured vertebrae can create more serious issues such as respiratory problems, deep vein thrombosis, osteoporosis, and loss of height. Vertebroplasty can prevent these complications as well as allow for the patient to heal faster and regain movement.
Symptoms
Vertebroplasty is performed when a vertebra has fractured. Symptoms of a fractured vertebrae include:
- Sudden onset of pain in the back
- Limited mobility of the spine
- Height loss
- Worsened pain when standing or walking
- Lessened pain when lying down on one’s back
For those who perform daily tasks at work or during everyday life that require lifting or bending, a fractured vertebra is much more common. Fractured vertebrae can also occur after a fall.
Diagnosis
Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will evaluate your symptoms and determine the cause of your pain. In some cases, vertebroplasty is not necessary if symptoms are not severe. Your physician will ask about your daily routine and any activities which make the pain feel worse. They may also have you lie down flat to determine if the pain is lessened in that position. Additionally, imaging tests such as MRIs or CT Scans may be ordered to see where the fractured vertebra is located.
Treatment (Overview)
Your physician will discuss with you all options for your treatment to determine which is the best for your needs. Vertebroplasty is a surgical procedure, but non-surgical procedures can also ease pain depending on severity. Tell your physician if you are taking any blood thinners or have a history of bleeding disorders, as this could affect blood clotting. Additionally, discuss with them all over-the-counter medicine and herbal supplements you take.

Non-Surgical Treatments
Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians provide all non-surgical options to a patient before surgery being recommended. Since vertebroplasty is a surgical treatment, it is only recommended if the pain is severe or interferes with the patient’s daily life.
If the pain is not as severe, non-surgical treatment methods may be used to reduce the pain of the fractured vertebra. These may include:
- Back braces
- Physical therapy
- Muscle relaxants
- Pain relievers
- Bed rest
Surgical Procedures/Treatments
Depending on the severity of the fractured vertebra and the nature of the pain, your physician may recommend vertebroplasty.
Since a special cement is inserted into the fractured vertebra, sedation medicine or general anesthesia may be used to calm and relax the patient during the procedure. Depending on how the cement enters the vertebra, a second injection may be required.
After the procedure, your physician will likely have you lie on your back for an hour while the cement hardens. Pain relief may be immediate, or it could take up to 72 hours. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease discomfort. A back brace may need to be worn after the procedure, but it is usually unnecessary.
Next Steps
If you feel as though you have a fractured vertebra or any severe pain in your back, contact Florida Orthopaedic Institute for a consultation. Our physicians are specialty trained and specialize in the most up-to-date spine care research and treatment.
Areas of Focus
- Spine
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Back Surgery Types
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Kyphosis
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Pinched Nerve
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Fusion
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Vertebroplasty
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Vertebroplasty:
Surgical Spine Solutions
Complex back problems require specialized care. See how surgeries performed by Dr. Weinstein helped two patients improve their quality of life.
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
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- Hand Skin Grafts
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- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
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- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
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- Partial Knee Replacement
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- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
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- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis