Method for stabilizing vertebral body architecture

1. A method for reducing the occurrence of new post-operative fractures in adjacent vertebrae of a human patient's spine after a vertebroplasty procedure performed to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a vertebroplasty procedure to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, wherein the vertebroplasty procedure comprises the step of injecting a material into the fractured vertebra in an amount less than 3 cc;

wherein the material is formed by mixing together a first paste and a second paste;

wherein the first paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), silica, and bioactive glass;

wherein the second paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), bisphenoi-A-ethoxy dimethacrylate (bis-EMA), barium-boroaluminosilicate glass, and silica;

wherein the material has a constant viscosity from about 100,000 to about 400,000 cP for allowing the material to flow and interdigitate into a structure of the vertebra; and

wherein the method reduces the occurrences of new post-operative fractures.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first paste further comprises a polymerization initiator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second paste further comprises a polymerization initiator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the filler further comprises a coupling agent.

5. A method for reducing the risk of new post-operative fractures in a human patient's adjacent vertebrae after a vertebroplasty procedure to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a vertebroplasty procedure to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient;

wherein the vertebroplasty procedure comprises the step of injecting a material into the fractured vertebra in an amount less than 3 cc;

wherein the material is formed by mixing together a first paste and a second paste;

wherein the first paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), silica, and bioactive glass;

wherein the second paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), bisphenoi-A-ethoxy dimethacrylate (bis-EMA), barium-boroaluminosilicate glass, and silica;

wherein the material has a constant viscosity from about 100,000 to about 400,000 cP for allowing the material to flow and interdigitate into a structure of the vertebra, and

wherein the method reduces the risk of new post-operative fractures in the adjacent vertebrae.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the material is hydrophilic and has a contact angle less than 75 degrees.

7. A method for reducing the risk of fractures in a human patient's adjacent vertebrae and to alleviate pain after a vertebroplasty procedure performed to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a vertebroplasty procedure to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, wherein the vertebroplasty procedure comprises the step of injecting a material into the fractured vertebra in an amount less than 3 cc, and allowing the material to harden for a period of 2.0-8.0 minutes to obtain heightened pain relief at about 3 months after the step of performing the vertebroplasty procedure; wherein the material is formed by mixing together a first paste and a second paste,

wherein the first paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), silica, and bioactive glass;

wherein the second paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), bisphenoi-A-ethoxy dimethacrylate (bis-EMA), barium-boroaluminosilicate glass, and silica;

wherein the material has a constant viscosity from about 100,000 to about 400,000 cP for allowing the material to flow and interdigitate into a structure of the vertebra; and

wherein the method reduces the risk of fractures in the adjacent vertebrae.

8. A method for reducing the risk of fractures in a human patient's adjacent vertebrae and to preserve physical functioning of the patient after a vertebroplasty procedure performed to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a vertebroplasty procedure to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, wherein the vertebroplasty procedure comprises the step of injecting a material into the fractured vertebra in an amount less than 3 cc, and allowing the material to harden for a period of 2.0-8.0 minutes to obtain better preservation of physical functioning of the patient at about 24 months after the step of injecting the material;

wherein the material is formed by mixing together a first paste and a second pastes;

wherein the first paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), silica, and bioactive glass;

wherein the second paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), bisphenoi-A-ethoxy dimethacrylate (bis-EMA), barium-boroaluminosilicate glass, and silica;

wherein the material has a constant viscosity from about 100,000 to about 400,000 cP for allowing the material to flow and interdigitate into a structure of the vertebra; and

wherein the method reduces the risk fractures in the adjacent vertebrae.

9. A method for reducing the risk of fractures in a human patient's adjacent vertebrae and simultaneously reducing the patient's exposure to implant material after a vertebroplasty procedure performed to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a vertebroplasty procedure to stabilize a fracture in a vertebra of the patient, wherein the vertebroplasty procedure comprises the step of injecting a material into the fractured vertebra in an amount less than 3 cc, and allowing the material to harden for a period of 2.0-8.0 minutes;

wherein the material is formed by mixing together a first paste and a second paste to produce the material;

wherein the first paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), silica, and bioactive glass;

wherein the second paste comprises bisphenol-A-glycidyl dimethacrylate (bis-GMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), bisphenoi-A-ethoxy dimethacrylate (bis-EMA), barium-boroaluminosilicate glass, and silica;

wherein the material has a constant viscosity from about 100,000 to about 400,000 cP for allowing the material to flow and interdigitate into a structure of the vertebra;

wherein the viscosity and flow characteristics of the material provide adequate fill of a given vertebral body volume and limit the volume of material leakage outside of the vertebral body thereby reducing the patient's exposure to implant material; and

wherein the method reduces the risk of fractures in the adjacent vertebrae.