One of the main topics in research at the St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis in Tilburg is percutaneous vertebroplasty. In 2001, we were the first to perform this procedure in the Netherlands. Since then, we have conducted several VERTOS trials and published many papers about its efficacy, effectiveness, and complications. At present, debate continues over the value of percutaneous vertebroplasty, after the publication of randomized controlled trials in the Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine. Health insurance companies in the Netherlands decided not to reimburse for this treatment.

We are currently recruiting patients for 2 additional RCTs comparing vertebroplasty with a sham procedure on acute and subacute osteoporotic vertebral fractures. We hope these trials will provide a definite answer and that percutaneous vertebroplasty regains a position in the management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

 

Read this article at AJNR.org . . .