Greater collaboration over vertebroplasty urgedRSS Feed

There needs to be collaboration between radiologists and medical experts to establish whether vertebroplasty is necessary for osteoporosis patients.

New research suggests that patient selection is key to the success of the procedure, which is minimally invasive and often performed to prevent spinal injury compression fractures in those who fail to respond to conventional therapy.

Scientists from the Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment in Italy have indicated that vertebroplasty improves quality of life and pain management among patients with osteoporosis.

Presenting findings at the annual Society of Interventional Radiology's Scientific Meeting, researcher Giovanni Anselmetti said: "Vertebroplasty dramatically improves back pain within hours of the procedure.

"All osteoporotic patients need to be followed by an interventional radiologist, who determines which patients are appropriate candidates to receive vertebroplasty treatment."

In January, scientists were quick to defend the procedure after two controversial studies were published suggesting that vertebroplasty has a placebo effect and puts patients at risk of losing beneficial treatment.

News from Serious Law, specialist spinal injury solicitors

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