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Complications of Vertebroplasty

When osteoporosis weakens bones in the spinal column, fractures known as compression fractures can occur in the back, which causes pain and poor posture. Vertobroplasty is a method of "re-inflating" the bone to restore posture and relieve pain in a minimally invasive manner. Due to the very little surgical trauma to the body, vertebroplasty is often not associated with major complications; however, some do occur.

  1. How It Works

    • During a vertebroplasty procedure, a patient lies in the stomach to leave the back exposed. A local anesthetic is applied to the affected area (general anesthesia is only used in certain occasions), then a surgeon makes a small incision on the spinal column sides. Needles are threaded through each opening in order to reach the back of the spinal column. When the needles are in place, ultra-strong bone cement is injected through the needle and delivered to the spinal column. The cement hardens in 15 minutes, according to Eorthopod.com, and bandages are placed over the incision sites.

    Thrombophlebitis

    • Also known as blood clots, thrombophlebitis is a surgical complication associated with many surgeries. Veins that run through the spinal column also run through the legs, and the lack of mobility due to the recovery process can cause blood clots to form in the leg veins. Symptoms include swelling, pain, redness or legs that are hot to the touch. In order to prevent clotting, a physician may prescribe blood thinners as well as pressure stockings to stimulate blood flow.

    Infection

    • Although the surgical incisions used in this procedure are small, bacteria can still invade and cause infection. Symptoms of this complication include redness, swelling or pus oozing from the surgical site. Infections could occur both on the skin's surface, which can be treated with antibiotics, or more deep infections that can spread into the soft tissue or bones. These infections can require serious treatment, such as surgery to remove the infected area from the spine.

    Cement Leakage

    • A chemical reaction when the cement is injected through the needle helps to ensure the cement dries fully. However, in rare instances the cement leaks through the vertebra. While even this occurrence may not cause problematic side effects, sometimes the leakage can affect the spinal cord or nerves in the spinal column. Further surgery may be required as treatment.

    Nonhealing/Pain

    • While pain is a natural byproduct of any surgical procedure, sometimes patients do not experience pain relief from their compression fracture following vertebroplasty. This can be due to difficulty healing in the surgical column or rejection of the spinal cement. If the pain begins to interfere with daily life, notify your doctor who can help with pain management techniques.

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