title: A comparison between one- and two-fluoroscopic techniques in percutaneous vertebroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is generally performed under fluoroscopic guidance. Technically, single fluoroscope is considered sufficient for effectively monitoring PV. However, single fluoroscopic technique might be time-consuming in rotating the C-arm of the fluoroscope for either antero-posterior (AP) or lateral radiographic view, and causing delay in detecting cement leakage that can occur if the correct sight is not given. The aim of the current investigation was to compare the efficacy and safety of performing PV using one or two sets of fluoroscope.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study enrolled 43 patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures and they were treated with one-level PV. A single orthopaedic surgeon operated on all these patients. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the method of fluoroscopic control. In Group 1 (15 patients), PV was performed under the assistance of one fluoroscope. In Group 2 (28 patients), PV was performed under the control of two fluoroscopes. The mean follow-up was 19 months (range, 12 to 30).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither symptomatic cement leakage nor postoperative infection was found in both groups. The mean operation time in Group 2 was shorter, 37.8 vs. 31.0 minutes for Groups 1 and 2, P = 0.03. The incidence of cement leakage for Groups 1 and 2 was 26.7% (4/15) vs. 14.3% (4/28), respectively, P = 0.19.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that the two-fluoroscopic technique can provide simultaneous, real-time AP and lateral radiographic views to monitor entry point and cement delivery for PV and therefore reduce the operation time. The two-fluoroscopic technique did not require a complex manpower organization and has been proved to be a safe and effective technique for PV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia-Yi, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. orthoyao@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Yen-Yao
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tsung-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chin-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Robert Wen-Wei
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*