Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to strengthen a broken vertebrae (spinal bone) that has been weakened or fractured by osteoporosis or cancer. It can also be used in patients with traumatic vertebral crush fractures. The procedure can help improve patient’s functional abilities and can often prevent further vertebral fracture. A needle is advanced into the area of the fracture and an orthopedic cement mixture is injected into the fractured bone. The cement will harden and it will stabilize the fractured vertebrae. Patients are able to sit and stand later the same day. They are brought in for consultation within days after the procedure. Patients that experience one fracture can often experience others and it is important to monitor patients for other fractures in the vertebrae on a regular basis.