What is the surgical procedure that repairs damaged or diseased vertebrae?

• A. Osteoplasty
• B. Vertebroplasty
• C. Spinal Fusion
• D. Chiropractic Manipulation

Answer: (B)

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure specifically designed to repair damaged or diseased vertebrae, particularly in cases of compression fractures often related to osteoporosis. During the procedure, a special cement is injected into the fractured vertebra to stabilize and support it, alleviating pain and restoring structural integrity.

This procedure is distinct from osteoplasty, which generally refers to the surgical reconstruction of bone but does not specifically target vertebrae. Spinal fusion involves the surgical joining of two or more vertebrae, which is different from directly repairing a damaged vertebra. Chiropractic manipulation focuses on spinal alignment and does not involve surgical intervention. Thus, vertebroplasty is the most accurate term used for this specific surgical repair of vertebral damage.