Spinal metastases: indications for and results of percutaneous injection of acrylic surgical cement.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty in treating spinal metastases that result in pain or instability.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients (20 men, 17 women; aged 33-86 years) underwent 52 percutaneous injections of surgical cement into a vertebra (vertebroplasty) with fluoroscopic guidance in 40 procedures. Vertebroplasty was performed for analgesia in 29 procedures, stabilization of the vertebral column in five procedures, and both in six procedures.


RESULTS
Twenty-four of the 33 procedures performed for analgesia that were evaluated resulted in clear improvement; seven, moderate improvement; and two, no improvement. Improvement was stable in 73% of patients at 6 months. In the procedure performed for stabilization, no displacement of treated vertebrae was observed (mean follow-up, 13 months). Three patients had transient radiculopathy due to cement extrusion, and two patients had transient difficulty in swallowing.


CONCLUSIONS
Vertebroplasty of metastases is a minimally invasive procedure that provides immediate and long-term pain relief and contributes to spinal stabilization.
Weill
A
A
Department of Neuroradiology, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Chiras
J
J
Simon
J M
JM
Rose
M
M
Sola-Martinez
T
T
Enkaoua
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001843:Bone Cements; D008768:Methylmethacrylates