Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to strengthen a broken vertebra that has been fractured and compressed by conditions such as osteoporosis or, less commonly, cancer. Vertebroplasty can increase the patient's functional abilities, allow a return to the previous level of activity. Often performed on an outpatient basis, vertebroplasty is accomplished by injecting an orthopedic cement mixture through a needle into the fractured bone.