title: Combined CT and fluoroscopic guidance of balloon kyphoplasty versus fluoroscopy-only procedures.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Route de Saint Antoine de Ginestiere, Nice 06200, France. amorettinicolas@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amoretti
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Marcy
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lesbats-Jacquot
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hovorka
authors.forename: Marie-Eve
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fonquerne
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hericord
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maratos
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Euller-Ziegler
mesh_terms: 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*