[Percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fracture].
BACKGROUND
Percutaneous vertebroplasty has become an option for the treatment of painful osteoporotic compression fractures in patients in whom conservative medical management has failed.


OBJECTIVE
This paper assessed the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with focal pain caused by compression vertebral body fractures.


METHODS
Over a twenty-five-month period 63 patients underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty, and ten of these patients were subsequently retreated, for a total of 73 operations on 93 vertebrae. The patients were affected by osteoporotic compression fractures (n=57) or by benign or malignant infiltrative processes (n=6). All patients were examined at discharge and thereafter to assess the level of pain and investigate possible changes in the quality of life. The mean length of follow-up was 15.2 months.


RESULTS
After treatment, almost 90% of patients reported complete disappearance or significant alleviation of the pain. In 7 of 63 of the patient (11%) there were small asymptomatic leakages of cement outside the vertebral body. A substantial number of patients with osteoporosis, 19% of the study population, experienced new fractures following treatment with vertebroplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience confirms the effectiveness of vertebroplasty to pain caused by vertebral fractures. If the indications are strictly followed, improvement of symptoms is often immediate, allowing the return of mobility, and patient satisfaction with surgery is higher. The use of appropriate systems limits the number of complications.
Kawanishi
Masahiro
M
Department of Neurosurgery, Takeda General Hospital, Kyoto-city, Japan.
Itoh
Yutaka
Y
Satoh
Daisuke
D
Matsuda
Nahoko
N
Kamo
Masatsugu
M
Handa
Hajime
H
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate