title: Balloon-related complications and technical failures in kyphoplasty for vertebral fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to describe the immediate or early complications and technical failures occurring during balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) procedures and attributable to balloon inflation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of all consecutive kyphoplasty procedures performed in our institution from May 2005 to October 2006. Fifty-one patients were treated by BKP at 75 spinal levels, and 137 vertebroplasties were performed as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several recurrent complications or procedural failures were observed during BKP: cortical or endplate fracture by balloon expansion (4 vertebrae), partial vertebral re-collapse after deflation (4 vertebrae), balloon rupture during inflation (5 vertebrae), and transient hyperalgia after the procedure (11 patients, 27.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several symptomatic or asymptomatic complications and technical failures can occur during BKP. Some modifications of the usual kyphoplasty technique may decrease the frequency of these complications.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Kremlin Bicêtre, France. guillaume.saliou@bct.aphp.fr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saliou
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rutgers
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kocheida
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Langman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meurin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deramond
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lehmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*