Combined CT and fluoroscopic guidance of balloon kyphoplasty versus fluoroscopy-only procedures.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of combined (computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopic) guidance of balloon kyphoplasty in comparison to fluoroscopic guidance alone.


METHODS
Forty-one kyphoplasties were performed between January 2005 and March 2006 according to two different protocols. Study group 1 consisted of 20 consecutive patients with 20 balloon kyphoplasty procedures under dual guidance (CT scan and fluoroscopy) for osteoporotic or traumatic vertebral fractures. Study group 2 consisted of 21 consecutive patients in whom kyphoplasty was performed with fluoroscopy alone. Visualization of the pedicles, the final of the balloon position, and cement distribution were evaluated(1-poor, 2-intermediate, 3-good).


RESULTS
Combined use of CT and fluoroscopy (group 1) was superior in identifying the pedicles (100% versus 66.7%, p = 0.009) and balloon placement (100% versus 71.4%, p = 0.02) but not in monitoring of cement distribution within the vertebral body (100% versus 90.5%, p = 0.49). The difference between the two groups was more pronounced in the thoracic spine than in the lumbar spine.


CONCLUSIONS
CT/fluoroscopic guidance of kyphoplasty combines safe CT-guided insertion of the osteointroducers and balloons as well as fluoroscopic real-time monitoring of polymethylmethacrylate injection.
Amoretti
Nicolas
N
Service de Radiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Route de Saint Antoine de Ginestiere, Nice 06200, France. amorettinicolas@yahoo.fr
Marcy
Pierre-Yves
PY
Lesbats-Jacquot
Virginie
V
Hovorka
Istvan
I
Fonquerne
Marie-Eve
ME
Roux
Christian
C
Hericord
Olivier
O
Maratos
Yvonne
Y
Euller-Ziegler
Liana
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*