title: The controversy over vertebroplasty: an analysis of the debate and proposals for a way forward.
abstract: This paper examines the ongoing and often heated debate about the merits or otherwise of percutaneous vertebroplasty as a treatment for painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures. In spite of the proliferation of research on this topic there is no agreement over its indications, safety or efficacy. We discuss the ethical issues which arise when new medical interventions such as vertebroplasty are introduced and make suggestions of relevance not just to the case of vertebroplasty, but to the introduction of innovative procedures generally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy, Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. jane.johnson@mq.edu.au
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Rosalind L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jeffree
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements