Objective: To examine whether percutaneous vertebroplasty is effective in biomechanical strengthening vertebral body. Methods:Four vertebral bodies (T 11 -L 2) from each of four fresh spines were harvested from female cadavers (age

70±5 years)

screened for BMD using DEXA and separated into individual vertebral bodies.Two vertebrae of each set were selected at random to be vertebroplasty group (Group A

n=8);others were control group (Group B

n=8).Each vertebra of Group A was injected with 5 ml low viscosity polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using transpedicular approach.The strength and stiffness of these vertebral bodies were measured. Results: The BMD indicated two group vertebral bodies suffered from serious osteoporosis (T=-3.15 to -4.66).The strength and stiffness were 2645±478N and 1317±281N/mm in group A;1862±620N and 1025±233N/mm in group B.Vertebral body strength of group A after injection of PMMA was stronger than that of group B ( P <0.05). Conclusion: Injection of PMMA using percutaneous vertebroplasty technique appeared to have strengthened osteoporotic vertebral bodies.