NICE vertebral fractures yes

NICE has published final guidance recommending two treatments for fractured bones in the spine (e) caused by osteoporosis.  Based on a report by the ScHARR-TAG group within HEDS, the new guidance says that percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty are recommended as options for treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures only in people:

• who have severe ongoing pain after a recent, unhealed vertebral fracture despite optimal pain management and
• in whom the pain has been confirmed to be at the level of the fracture by physical examination and imaging. 

Photo credit: perpetualplum via Flickr Creative Commons