Vertebroplasty

Procedure Time
45 min.-1 hour

Purpose
To offer treatment for Osteoporosis body compression fractures.

Procedure

• Patient is taken to IPU for IVs and labs drawn. Patient is then sent to Special Procedures.
  
• Radiologist will discuss procedure and answer any questions.
  
• Patient is then placed on the table, lying on stomach, hooked to monitors and prepped for procedure.
  
• Radiologist inserts needle and accesses the vertebral body of interest.
  
• Contrast injections will be made to confirm needle placement.
  
• Cement will then be mixed and injected into verterbral body until filling is achieved.
  
• Needle is then removed and pressure is held at site until bleeding has stopped.
  
• Patient is sent to IPU for observation prior to discharge.
  
• Patient must have someone drive them home.

Click to view descriptions of individual Special Procedures performed at St. Mary's.

For more information about MRI please contact Troy Smith at tsmith@stmaryshealth.com.