Percutaneous vertebroplasty has become widely accepted as a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of painful vertebral body compression fractures refractory to medical therapy. In this article, the authors review the indications and contraindications for vertebroplasty, principles of appropriate patient selection, useful techniques to achieve optimal outcomes, and the potential risks and complications of the procedure.
Keywords: interventional radiology; kyphoplasty; osteoporosis; vertebral augmentation; vertebral compression fracture; vertebroplasty.