Preliminary report of transpedicle body augmenter vertebroplasty in painful vertebral tumors.
METHODS
Transpedicle body augmenter vertebroplasty of painful vertebral tumor was retrospectively evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
Transpedicle body augmenter vertebroplasty was designed to treat spinal tumor with intractable pain refractory to conservative management, deformity, biomechanical impairment, and neural deficits.


BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy cannot restore spinal stability. Complication rates of major surgery are high. Percutaneous vertebroplasty has a high leakage rate, and tumor tissue may be displaced into the canal. Transpedicle body augmenter vertebroplasty was designed to treat spinal tumor for pain control and stability.


METHODS
There were 9 women and 9 men with a mean age of 62.7 +/- 12.6 years included. All patients had vertebral pain. Walking was impossible for 12 patients, and 15 had neurologic deficits. Treatments included manual reduction and transpedicle body augmenter vertebroplasty.


RESULTS
Mean follow-up time was 18 months. Mean hospitalization was 7.1 +/- 4.2 days, operating time was 46 +/- 25 minutes, and blood loss was 263 +/- 157 cc. Neither neurologic deterioration nor root irritation was found after transpedicle body augmenter vertebroplasty. No dislodgement of the transpedicle body augmenter was found at the final visit. According to the visual analog scale, pain was 9.3 before surgery, 3.2 at 2-week follow-up, and 2.2 at 3-month follow-up. There were 11 patients (92%) who recovered walking ability. Neurologic status improved in 14 patients (93%). The satisfaction rate was 89%.


CONCLUSIONS
Transpedicle body augmenter vertebroplasty proved to be safe and effective in reducing pain and improving functional status of patients with spinal tumor.
Li
Anna F-Y
AF
School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Li
Kung-Chia
KC
Chang
Fang-Yuan
FY
Hsieh
Ching-Hsiang
CH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014025:Titanium
D014025:Titanium