Polymethylmethacrylate-augmented screw fixation for stabilization in metastatic spinal tumors. Technical note.
Screw fixation augmented with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or some other biocompatible bone cement has been used in patients with osteoporosis requiring spinal fusion. No clinical studies have been conducted on PMMA-augmented screw fixation for stabilization of the vertebral column in patients with metastatic spinal tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether screw fixation augmented with PMMA might be suitable in patients treated for multilevel metastatic spinal tumors. Ten patients with metastatic spinal tumors involving multiple vertebral levels underwent stabilization procedures in which PMMA was used to augment screw fixation after decompression of the spinal cord. Within 15 days, partial or complete relief from pain was obtained in all patients postoperatively. Two of four patients in whom neurological deficits caused them to be nonambulatory before surgery were able to ambulate postoperatively. Neither collapse of the injected vertebral bodies nor failure of the screw fixation was observed during the mean follow-up period of 6.7 months. Screw fixation augmented with PMMA may offer stronger stabilization and facilitate the instrumentation across short segments in the treatment of multilevel metastatic spinal tumors.
Jang
Jee Soo
JS
Department of Neurosurgery, Wooridul Spine Hospital, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul. spinejjs@yahoo.co.kr
Lee
Sang Ho
SH
Rhee
Chang Hun
CH
Lee
Seung Hoon
SH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate