Sacral Insufficiency

What are traditional treatments for lower-back bones weakened by osteoporosis (sacral insufficiency)? A sacral insufficiency fracture is a debilitating condition. Traditional treatment requires prolonged bed rest, with the associated complications that result from immobility.

To reduce pain, physicians have traditionally prescribed bed rest, painkillers, corsets or other measures. Such treatments can put patients at increased risk of thromboembolism, skin breakdown, pressure ulcers, constipation, depression, progressive osteoporosis, and reduced muscle strength and cardiac function.

What is sacroplasty? Sacroplasty, performed by an interventional radiologist, is a safe and effective treatment of osteoporotic fractures of the sacrum. Symptoms are often immediately relieved by treatment of the fractures with injection of polymethylmethacrylate. What is the sacroplasty procedure? In this procedure, a medical-grade “cement” is injected into the sacrum using imaging guidance. The result is to dramatically reduce low-back and buttock pain caused by sacral insufficiency fractures.