Percutaneous cementoplasty in multiple myeloma: a valuable adjunct for pain control and ambulation maintenance.
OBJECTIVE
Bone pain and functional impairment are major concerns for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The goal of this study was to better define the role of percutaneous cementoplasty (PC) in improving their quality of life.


METHODS
This retrospective analysis included 28 consecutive heavily pretreated MM patients managed at our institution between 1996 and 2002. They underwent a total of 34 PC procedures for the treatment of 117 vertebrae and 2 iliac sites and were evaluated at 1 month.


RESULTS
Significant pain reduction of >50% was obtained after 83% of the procedures, with a mean visual analogous score decreasing from 7.48/10 to 2.1/10 (p < 0.001). It resulted in a complete interruption of opiate analgesic consumption after 59.3% of the procedures, with a mean decrease of 70.4% in the opiate dose. Functional impairment was evaluated with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scale, with mean scores improving from 1.9 to 0.86 after the procedures (p = 0.001). There was no major complication.


CONCLUSIONS
PC is a safe, feasible, and efficient approach for the treatment of bone pain and disability in MM patients.
Tran Thang
Nhu Nam
NN
Division of Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, 21 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland.
Abdo
German
G
Martin
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Seium-Neberay
Yodit
Y
Yilmaz
Hasan
H
Verbist
Marie-Christine
MC
Rufenacht
Daniel
D
Sappino
Andre-Pascal
AP
Dietrich
Pierre-Yves
PY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010690:Phlebography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult