RESEARCH - Spinal fracture: cement no better than sham

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Spinal Fracture: Cement No Better Than Sham

Studies Raise Questions About Popular Treatment for

Osteoporosis-Related Spinal Compression Fractures

By Salynn Boyles

WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Aug. 5, 2009 -- A popular treatment for painful spinal compression

fractures works no better than sham therapy in patients with

osteoporosis, according to two new studies published today in the New

England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers compared outcomes among patients who received injections

of medical-grade cement to stabilize collapsed vertebra with those of

patients who received a sham treatment.

Both treatments seemed to work, but patients injected with the cement

showed no more improvement in pain and function than patients who

received the sham treatment.

Cement injection, known medically as vertebroplasty, has become a

leading treatment for osteoporosis-related spinal fractures. By one

estimate, the number of vertebroplasties performed in the United

States doubled between 2001 and 2007.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/news/20090805/spinal-fracture-cement-no-better\

-than-sham

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