Vertebroplasty in Queens

Vertebroplasty at our Queens, NY location is a minimally invasive procedure that stabilizes painful spinal compression fractures, providing rapid relief and restoring mobility with minimal recovery time.

A Fractured Vertebra Can Heal With the Right Intervention at the Right Time

Vertebral compression fractures are more common than most people realize, particularly in patients with osteoporosis, and the pain they cause can be severe and debilitating. Left untreated, these fractures can worsen over time and significantly impact quality of life.

Vertebroplasty offers a precise, minimally invasive solution, stabilizing the fracture with bone cement in a procedure that takes about an hour and often delivers meaningful pain relief within 48 hours. At Gerling Spine Care and Research Institute, our Queens patients benefit from expert evaluation and experienced hands for this time-sensitive procedure.

Contact our Queens office today to find out whether Vertebroplasty is the right solution for your condition.

What Is Vertebroplasty?

Vertebroplasty, also known as percutaneous vertebroplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat painful vertebral compression fractures. A small needle is guided through the skin into the fractured vertebra under fluoroscopic imaging, and medical-grade bone cement is injected directly into the collapsed bone.

The cement hardens quickly, stabilizing the fracture and preventing the bone fragments from rubbing together, which is the primary source of the severe pain these fractures cause.

Vertebroplasty Versus Kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty is closely related to kyphoplasty, another procedure used to treat compression fractures.

The key difference is that kyphoplasty first inflates a small balloon inside the vertebra to create a cavity and partially restore vertebral height before the cement is injected.

Vertebroplasty injects cement directly without the balloon step. Both procedures are effective, and the appropriate choice depends on the specific characteristics of the fracture, including its age, severity, and degree of collapse. Our Queens team will evaluate your imaging carefully and recommend the most appropriate approach for your situation.

Smiling medical professional handing over clipboard

Conditions Treated With Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is used to treat painful vertebral compression fractures caused by:

Osteoporosis, the most common cause of compression fractures in older adults
Spinal trauma or injury
Pathologic fractures caused by spinal tumors, including metastatic cancer and multiple myeloma
Fractures that have not healed adequately with conservative management

It is most effective for relatively recent fractures, typically within a few weeks to a few months of onset, and for patients whose pain correlates clearly with the fracture on imaging.

Are You a Candidate for Vertebroplasty in Queens?

Good candidates for vertebroplasty have a confirmed vertebral compression fracture on imaging, significant pain that has not responded adequately to rest, pain medication, or conservative care, and a fracture that is recent enough to be amenable to cement stabilization.

Vertebroplasty may not be appropriate for fractures that are very old and fully healed, for patients with severe neurological compromise from the fracture, or for those with significant spinal canal narrowing at the fracture site. Active infection or allergy to the cement material are also contraindications.

Because timing matters significantly with compression fractures, prompt evaluation is important. Our Queens team will review your imaging and medical history thoroughly to determine whether vertebroplasty is appropriate and whether it should be performed promptly.

We’re here to help you move forward.

What to Expect From Vertebroplasty in Queens

Vertebroplasty is an outpatient procedure with a straightforward recovery. Most patients go home the same day and notice significant improvement within 48 hours.

Before Your Vertebroplasty

Your consultation will include a detailed review of your symptoms, imaging, and medical history, including any blood-thinning medications or health conditions that require pre-procedure management. Our team will explain the procedure clearly, outline realistic expectations, and answer all questions before proceeding.

The Day of Your Surgery

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation for comfort and typically takes approximately one hour, though multiple fractures being treated in the same session may take longer. You will lie face down while fluoroscopic imaging guides precise needle placement into the fractured vertebra.

Once the needle is correctly positioned, bone cement is carefully injected and allowed to harden. Most patients are discharged the same day.

Recovering After Your Procedure

Most patients experience meaningful pain relief within 24 to 48 hours of the procedure. Some soreness at the injection site is normal for one to two days. There are no major activity restrictions following vertebroplasty, though your care team will provide specific guidance based on the underlying cause of your fracture and your overall bone health.

For patients with osteoporosis, addressing bone density through medication and lifestyle measures is an important part of preventing future fractures, and our team will discuss this as part of your ongoing care.

Why Choose Gerling Spine Care and Research Institute?

Gerling Spine Care and Research Institute offers Queens patients expert evaluation and treatment of vertebral compression fractures, with the same precision and evidence-based approach that defines everything we do. Our lead surgeon has over 40 peer-reviewed publications, and the institute has more than 300 in total, with active leadership in NASS, CSRS, and LSRS.

We are committed to identifying the right solution for each patient quickly and delivering it with the skill and care that leads to the best possible outcomes.

Vertebroplasty Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly does vertebroplasty relieve pain?

Many patients notice meaningful improvement within 24 to 48 hours of the procedure as the bone cement stabilizes the fracture. Some patients experience relief almost immediately, while others notice gradual improvement over a few days as inflammation at the fracture site subsides.

Is vertebroplasty painful?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and mild sedation, so most patients experience little to no pain during the injection. Some soreness at the needle insertion site is normal for a day or two following the procedure and typically resolves quickly.

Can vertebroplasty be performed on more than one fracture at a time?

Yes, vertebroplasty can be performed on multiple compression fractures in a single session when appropriate. Procedure time increases with each additional level treated. Your surgeon will determine whether treating multiple levels simultaneously is safe and advisable based on your overall health and the characteristics of each fracture.

Does vertebroplasty prevent future fractures?

Vertebroplasty stabilizes the treated fracture but does not address the underlying bone density problem that caused it. For patients with osteoporosis, medical treatment to improve bone density is essential to reducing the risk of future fractures at other spinal levels.

What is the difference between vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty?

Kyphoplasty uses a small balloon to create a cavity inside the fractured vertebra and partially restore height before cement is injected. Vertebroplasty injects cement directly without the balloon step. Both are effective procedures; the choice between them depends on the characteristics of the specific fracture and the goals of treatment.