A widely used and painful treatment for spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis has been found to be ineffective in a new study. The procedure called vertebroplasty, injects a cement into the vertebrae. The procedure can cause serious injury or death if the cement seeps into blood vessels. One of the physicians who helped develop the procedure said he was shocked with the results. The study found the procedure to be no better than a placebo.
The studies were begun several years ago in the United States, Britain and Australia. It is too soon to tell whether this study will be affecting coverage of the procedures by insurance companies or medicare. I am always of the opinion that one needs to wait for the medical literature and studies to develop before you jump on the band wagon for a new procedure. Obviously, for some people, the choice may be death or the procedure. However, when it is not, studies such as this offer a good reason to wait.
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