Abstract
Technical advances in the field of radiology have not only led to improved diagnosis and evaluation of osteoporotic compression fractures but now provide the innovative treatment option of vertebroplasty. While this procedure is relatively new in the United States, success in the European medical communities has yielded impressive results. Specialty nurses need to be familiar with this treatment option in order to refer, educate, and provide nursing care for the patient who undergoes vertebroplasty. Additional outcome research is needed to answer questions surrounding this procedure and thus provides another opportunity for the nurse to be involved in the health care of patients.
As the population of the United States enjoys longevity, morbidity issues are of key interest. Aside from the economic concerns associated with morbidity, quality of life issues are of vital importance.
Osteoporosis has received increasing attention over the past decade as a problem with a huge national impact (see Table 1). For example, in 1997, Jensen and Dion estimated that 35 million elderly Americans have osteoporosis.
Women make up 80% of patients with osteoporosis (Taft et al., 2000). It is estimated that one in two Caucasian women will develop an osteoporotic fracture (Lane et al., 2000). Non-Caucasian women and men also develop osteoporotic fractures, although their risk is lower. More than 700,000 compression fractures of vertebral bodies occur each year (Jensen & Dion, 2000). Hip and wrist fractures account for another 490,000 annual osteoporotic fractures (Lenchik & Sartoris, 1997).
The high prevalence of osteoporosis, the availability of new medications for the prevention of this disorder, and simple means to detect the problem have all contributed to a heightened awareness of osteoporosis (Lenchik & Sartoris, 1997). The therapeutic option of vertebroplasty to provide pain relief holds promise for some of the patients with osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures.