title: Percutaneous vertebroplasty in osteoporosis, myeloma and Langerhans' cell histiocytosis.
abstract: This review aims to assess the effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty as a treatment for the severe refractory pain associated with vertebral fracture, in a group of patients with fractures secondary to either osteoporotic or neoplastic disease. A retrospective review of 20 patients treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty in Cork University Hospital up until March 2007 was carried out and a questionnaire was prepared and distributed. Prior to vertebroplasty, patients had been symptomatic with severe pain for a mean of 20.9 weeks. Of those thirteen whom replied to a postal questionnaire, 12 (92.3%) reported pain relief and this improvement occurred within 7 days in 9 (81.8%). This was associated with decreased analgesic requirements, as determined on chart review. Prior to the procedure only 5 (38.4%) were independently mobile and this figure rose to 10 (76.9%) afterwards, occurring within one week in the majority. Subjective outcomes were better in the group of patients with neoplasm-induced fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. barrykevane@hotmail.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kevane
authors.forename: D Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gilligan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty