title: Percutaneous vertebroplasty in painful schmorl nodes.
abstract: The Schmorl node represents displacement of intervertebral disc tissue into the vertebral body. Both Schmorl nodes and degenerative disc disease are common in the human spine. We performed a retrospective study, for the period from January 2003 to February 2005, evaluating 23 patients affected by painful Schmorl nodes, who underwent in our department percutaneous transpedicular injection of polymethylmethacrylate (vertebroplasty) in order to solve their back pain not responsive to medical and physical management. Eighteen patients reported improvement of the back pain and no one reported a worsening of symptoms. Improvement was swift and persistent in reducing symptoms. Painful Schmorl nodes, refractory to medical or physical therapy, should be considered as a new indication within those vertebral lesions adequately treatable utilizing Vertebroplasty procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Tor Vergata University, General Hospital, Rome, Italy. salva.masala@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pipitone
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massari
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate