PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty five patients [70 women and 15 men aged 51-88 (mean, 70) years with 148 vertebral compression fractures underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty. The causes of fracture were slip, lifting, fall, traffic accident, walking, and other unknown causes; the duration of pain varied from three days to two years. All patients underwent MRI or CT to assess the recent condition of the fracture, and vertebroplasty was performed under DSA fluoroscopic guidance. Routine clinical follow-up examination involved visual analogue pain-scale testing one and two days after vertebroplasty; the results obtained were compared with those of preoperative assessment. The outcome of vertebroplasty was assessed in terms of its efficacy and resulting complications, if any. RESULTS: The procedures were technically successful in all patients. In 73, back pain was relieved within 24 hours; in nine, within 48 hours and in one, within seven days. In two patients, pain relief was insignificant, and one of these died. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous vertebroplasty was a useful procedure for treating painful osteoporotic compression fractures.