Vertebroplasty appears no better than placebo for painful osteoporotic spinal fractures, and has potential to cause harm

Graziotti, Paul J

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03465.x

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To the Editor: The editorial by Buchbinder et al suggesting that the effectiveness of vertebroplasty has been determined by the two studies she and her co-authors published1 is misleading.

Cambridge Pain Management Centre, Perth, WA.

Correspondence: grazfam@iinet.net.au

Competing interests:

Stryker Pty Ltd (medical device company) paid my costs of travel and accommodation to participate in an instructional course on vertebroplasty.

1. Buchbinder R, Osborne RH, Kallmes D. Vertebroplasty appears no better than placebo for painful osteoporotic spinal fractures, and has potential to cause harm [editorial]. Med J Aust 2009; 191: 476-477. <MJA full text>
2. Buchbinder R, Osborne R, Ebeling P, et al. A randomised trial of vertebroplasty for painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures. N Engl J Med 2009; 361: 557-568.
3. Kallmes DF, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ, et al. A randomised trial of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic spinal fractures. N Engl J Med 2009; 361: 569-579.

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