Vertebroplasty Surgery in Mumbai | Vertebral Fracture Stabilisation

Vertebroplasty treats a vertebral compression fracture, a crack or collapse in one of the bones of the spine, most often caused by osteoporosis, though trauma and certain cancers can also weaken the vertebra enough to fracture.

These two procedures are frequently confused, and getting the distinction right matters:

• Vertebroplasty injects bone cement directly into the fractured vertebra, without a balloon, aiming primarily to stabilise the fracture and relieve pain.
• Kyphoplasty first inflates a balloon inside the fractured vertebra to create space and attempt to restore some lost height, then fills that cavity with cement.

Neither is simply "better", the right choice depends on your specific fracture, its shape, and your goals.

• Osteoporosis, weakening bone density, particularly in older adults, by far the most common cause
• Trauma, such as a fall or accident
• Cancer or other conditions that weaken bone, including multiple myeloma, kidney disease, lymphoma, and metastatic cancer affecting the spine
• Long-term steroid use, which can weaken bone over time

A fractured vertebra typically causes sudden, severe back pain, often worse with standing, sitting, or movement, along with reduced mobility and, over time, potential height loss or a stooped posture if multiple fractures occur. Diagnosis involves a physical exam alongside imaging:

• X-ray, to identify the fracture
• MRI or CT scan, for a more detailed view of the vertebra and surrounding structures
• Bone density (DEXA) scan, to assess for underlying osteoporosis

Retropulsion is an important finding your specialist checks for on imaging, a fragment of bone displaced backward into the spinal canal. Significant retropulsion can affect whether vertebroplasty is appropriate, since it raises the risk of nerve or spinal cord involvement, and may point toward a different treatment approach entirely.

Candidacy depends on your specific fracture, not just your symptoms. May be appropriate if you have:

• A confirmed vertebral compression fracture on imaging
• Significant pain that has lasted at least several weeks (commonly two months or more) and hasn't responded to conservative treatment
• A fracture without significant retropulsion or neurological compromise

Generally not suitable for:

• Active spinal infection
• A fracture where imaging shows significant retropulsion into the spinal canal
• Uncontrolled bleeding disorders
• Allergy to bone cement or contrast material used during imaging
• Cases better suited to kyphoplasty or a different approach, based on fracture shape and severity

Best Doctors to Perform Vertebroplasty Surgery in Mumbai

Treatment in elderly patients requires particular care, since osteoporosis, multiple existing fractures, and other health conditions are more common in this group. Vertebroplasty is commonly and safely performed in older adults, but a full evaluation of bone health and overall medical status is essential, alongside a plan to manage the underlying osteoporosis itself, since vertebroplasty treats the fracture, not the bone-weakening condition that caused it.

• Confirming the fracture, its cause, and checking for retropulsion through imaging
• Review of medical history, medications, and bleeding risk
• Pausing certain blood thinners, if appropriate, only on medical advice
• Avoiding food for several hours beforehand
• Arranging for someone to drive you home afterward

Typically completed as a day-care visit, often taking about an hour per vertebra treated:

• Positioning - you lie face-down; the treatment area is cleaned.
• Anaesthesia - local anaesthesia with sedation is commonly used; general anaesthesia is an option in select cases, not a fixed default.
• Guided access - under fluoroscopic image guidance, a needle is carefully positioned into the fractured vertebra, confirming exact, safe placement in real time.
• Cement injection - medical-grade bone cement is slowly injected into the vertebra, sometimes with a second injection to fill it fully.
• Completion - the needle is withdrawn, pressure applied, and a sterile bandage placed over the small entry point.

• First 24 hours - rest advised, generally lying on your back for a couple of hours while the cement hardens, followed by a short observation period.
• First few days - mild soreness at the injection site is common; ice can help, over-the-counter pain relief may be used as advised.
• First 6 weeks - avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity.
• Ongoing - some patients benefit from a physiotherapy programme to support spinal muscle strength, though not everyone needs formal rehabilitation after vertebroplasty specifically.

Pain relief timing varies: some people feel improvement almost immediately, for others it takes several days.

Vertebroplasty has a favourable safety profile, but like any procedure, it isn't risk-free:

• Mild soreness or bruising at the injection site
• Infection, uncommon, typically treatable if it occurs
• Bleeding, uncommon but a genuine risk of any needle-based procedure
• Cement leakage beyond the vertebra, usually without symptoms, though rarely it can affect a nearby nerve
• Allergic reaction to the bone cement or imaging contrast
• Rare, more serious complications: nerve or spinal cord injury, or cement entering a blood vessel

Serious complications are uncommon but not impossible. Nivaan specialist will discuss your individual risk factors honestly, including your fracture's shape, location, and any retropulsion, before proceeding.

Our interventional pain specialists focus on accurate diagnosis, confirming your fracture, checking for retropulsion, identifying the underlying cause, and coordinating the right next step. Vertebroplasty is a percutaneous, image-guided procedure, and depending on your specific case and who is best placed to perform it, you'll be told clearly and transparently exactly which specialist will carry out your procedure and their relevant experience.

Assessment starts with an accurate diagnosis, not an assumption, an interventional pain specialist confirms your diagnosis, fracture cause, and imaging findings; a physiotherapist supports mobility and strength before and after any procedure, where appropriate; a nutrition expert supports bone health alongside treatment, since vertebroplasty treats the fracture, not the underlying osteoporosis.