What is vertebroplasty?
Vertebroplasty consists of injecting acrylic cement (polymethyl methacrylate) into a fractured or weakened vertebra, percutaneously and under CT guidance, in order to consolidate the vertebra and relieve pain.
Cementoplasty refers to the injection of cement into bones other than the vertebrae (pelvis, ribs, acetabulum) for the same purpose.
Why choose this technique?
- Rapid and lasting pain relief (effective in 80–90% of cases)
- Consolidation of the vertebra, prevention of collapse
- Minimally invasive technique, day case or short hospital stay
- Applicable to osteoporotic fractures and spinal bone metastases
Who is this method for?
- Recent painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures (less than 3 months old)
- Painful spinal metastases or lytic bone lesions
- Patients not relieved by pain-relief medication
- Indication confirmed after rheumatology or oncology review depending on the context
How does it work?
Short hospital stay (1 to 2 days): under general or local anaesthesia depending on the case
Percutaneous puncture guided by CT scan at the level of the target vertebra
Injection of acrylic cement under continuous radiological control
Immediate consolidation: you can usually get up within a few hours
What is the recovery like?
- Pain improvement is often very rapid (within 24–48 hours)
- Complications are rare: cement leakage (most often asymptomatic), infection
- Radiological follow-up at 1 month
Understanding painful vertebral fractures
Vertebral collapse mainly occurs in two settings: osteoporosis (bone fragility related to age or certain treatments) and spinal bone metastases. They cause low-back or mid-back pain that is often very intense and disabling, resistant to usual painkillers.
What vertebroplasty / cementoplasty does
Orthopaedic cement (acrylic resin) is injected into the fractured or weakened vertebra through a fine needle guided by CT scan. As it hardens, it consolidates the vertebra within minutes and relieves pain through mechanical stabilisation. The technique has been used successfully for more than 30 years.
Expected outcomes
- Significant pain relief within the first 24 to 48 hours in 85 to 90% of cases
- After 2 weeks, two thirds of patients can reduce their painkiller doses
- About 75% of patients regain lost mobility and resume their activities
- Consolidation of the vertebra: prevention of further collapse
Practical aftercare
Return to usual activities within 24 to 48 hours. Avoid significant physical exertion during the first week. Radiological follow-up at 1 month to check consolidation.
What to prepare before the consultation
- A recent spinal MRI or CT scan
- Bone densitometry if you have osteoporosis
- A recent blood work-up
📄 Patient information sheet
⚡ At a glance — key figures
Vertebroplasty stabilises a fractured vertebra by injecting medical bone cement through a needle under imaging guidance, with no open surgery, aiming for rapid pain relief.
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| Pain relief | Significant improvement in 80–90% of patients, often within 24–48 hours |
| Indications | Painful osteoporotic fractures, vertebral metastases or myeloma, aggressive haemangiomas |
| Procedure time | About 30–60 minutes depending on the number of vertebrae treated |
| Main risk | Cement leak, usually asymptomatic — severe complications remain rare |
| Cost | Covered by French national health insurance at Cochin AP-HP — no out-of-pocket fees. |
Data validated by the team of Prof. Anthony Dohan, Department of Interventional Radiology, Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité.
✅ Covered by French National Health Insurance. No additional fees.
❓ Frequently asked questions
🔗 Related pages
✓ Why this page is trustworthy
Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.