Cancer can start in one part of the body and spread to other regions, causing significant pain and reducing a patient’s ability to walk or carry out everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. When cancer spreads to or occurs in a bone of the spine (a vertebral bone), the cancer can weaken and break this bone. These fractures, if left untreated, can negatively affect quality of life.
Health Quality Ontario Reviews Vertebral Augmentation for Cancer-Related Vertebral Compression Fractures
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are two procedures that stabilize a spinal fracture. Both involve the injection of bone cement into the broken vertebral bone. With kyphoplasty, a small balloon is first inserted into the vertebral bone to restore height and create a space to inject the cement.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided the following response: Cancer Care Ontario is providing funding to support vertebral augmentation procedures to appropriately selected cancer patients in the province.