Vertebral compression fractures (breaks in the spine in which the broken bone has collapsed) are among the most common type of fracture in people with osteoporosis and can arise during activities of daily living without any specific impact or traumatic event. Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are a common cause of both sudden and lasting back pain in older people (in addition, many OVCFs have no symptoms and may go undetected).

It is estimated that about 60% to 90% of people with painful OVCFs, the pain goes away within 4-8 weeks with treatment that may include rest, pain medication, and management of osteoporosis and other fracture risk factors. This is referred to as nonsurgical or conservative treatment. For severely painful OVCFs that do not respond to conservative treatment, doctors may use alternative procedures that involve injecting cement into the broken or collapsed bone to restore and harden it. We looked at 2 procedures: percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (PBK).

This health technology assessment looked at how safe, effective, and cost-effective PVP and PBK are for adults with OVCFs that do not respond to conservative treatment. It also looked at the budget impact of publicly funding percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty and at the experiences, preferences, and values of people with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.