title: Current concepts and techniques in percutaneous vertebroplasty.
abstract: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of many different types of painful vertebral lesions, including osteoporotic compression fractures,hemangiomas, or malignancy-induced pathologic vertebral fractures. Medical therapy often is limited to pain control and immobilization. Because surgery is contraindicated frequently in patients who have osteoporotic compression fractures, and because patients who have widespread metastatic disease often are not surgical candidates, vertebroplasty may be the only practical option. In experienced hands and with appropriately selected patients, percutaneous vertebroplasty is a safe, inexpensive, and highly efficacious procedure; however, because of the potential for devastating complications, all efforts must be made to optimize patient safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, 899 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada. manraj.heran@vch.ca
authors.forename: Manraj K S
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Heran
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Legiehn
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Munk
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate