Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic fracture: preliminary experience at Middlemore Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To describe our initial experience with percutaneous vertebroplasty in a New Zealand teaching hospital setting.


METHODS
Five patients suffering osteoporotic vertebral fractures were treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty.


RESULTS
Three patients experienced improvement in pain after the procedure. The other two experienced documented improvement in mobility. There were no significant complications.


CONCLUSIONS
This small series shows that percutaneous vertebroplasty has been successfully performed in a New Zealand teaching hospital. The definitive role of this technique in the management of patients with osteoporotic fractures remains to be determined.
Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. Adoyle@middlemore.co.nz
Anthony
A
Doyle
Stewart
S
Hawkins
Jamie
J
Tran
D001843:Bone Cements; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate