title: Biomechanical effects of unipedicular vertebroplasty on intact vertebrae.
abstract: METHODS
  To assess the biomechanical effects of unipedicular vertebroplasty on nonfractured vertebrae.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential benefits of vertebroplasty as a preventative treatment. To evaluate the effects of cement volume and bone mineral density on the mechanics of augmented intact vertebral bodies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Many studies have been undertaken to examine the effects of augmentation procedures such as vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty on fractured vertebral bodies. However, the role of such procedures as a prophylactic or interventional tool has not been well studied. This approach may be of clinical interest due to the high occurrence of secondary compression fractures and potentially altered biomechanics following an isolated vertebroplasty procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonfractured osteoporotic vertebrae were measured to calculate volume and DEXA scanned to obtain bone mineral density information. Randomly selected specimens were injected with 10% and 20% bone cement by volume or left unfilled to serve as controls. After radiographs and noted cement leakage, specimens were subjected to destructive compression testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that the injection of 20% bone cement by volume in the lumbar levels resulted in a statistically significant 36% strength increase as compared with the unfilled controls regardless of density levels. However, in the upper thoracic vertebrae there was no significant difference between the strengths of the three groups. Additionally, injection of 20% bone cement frequently resulted in extravasation through vascular channels or into the spinal canal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction of 20% bone cement by volume results in a significant increase in the compressive strength of intact lumbar vertebrae, however upper thoracic vertebrae do not demonstrate a similar strength improvement. There was no difference in the stiffness of the vertebrae injected with cement regardless of location. Bone mineral density (BMD) may play a role in the magnitude of the strength increase, with lower BMD specimens realizing a relatively greater strength improvement. Cement leakage was frequently noted with 20% cement injection, especially in the specimens with higher BMD. The location of the cement did not appear to have an effect on the loading behavior of the bone but should be controlled to minimize the chance of cement escaping into the spinal canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Harten
authors.forename: Noshir A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Langrana
authors.forename: Mitchell F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reiter
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000494:pharmacology; D015519:Bone Density; D002102:Cadaver; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000494:pharmacology; D013131:Spine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate