Vertebroplasty: The Alternative Treatment for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures in the Elderly

For years, many of the elderly have been suffering from back pain secondary to osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The National Osteoporosis Foundation reported that 10 million people have osteoporosis, with an estimated 700,000 osteoporosis-related vertebral body compression fractures occurring each year.1 Osteoporotic fractures accounted for 2.5 million physician visits in 1995, with 435,000 hospital admissions, 180,000 nursing home admissions, and $13.5 billion in direct medical expenses.2

Physicians have been using traditional methods of treatment for vertebral body fractures, in...