Kyphoplasty for patients with multiple myeloma is a safe surgical procedure: results from a large patient cohort.
BACKGROUND
Only in recent years has balloon kyphoplasty gained significance in the treatment of vertebral fractures as an adequate minimally invasive vertebral stabilization technique. Kyphoplasty has also increasingly been used to treat vertebral osteolyses caused by multiple myeloma (MM).


METHODS
In our cohort of 76 patients with MM with a total of 190 vertebral fractures treated with kyphoplasty, we performed a 30-day postoperative analysis of cement leakage, neurologic symptoms, pulmonary embolism, and infections.


RESULTS
Painful osteolytic or fractured vertebrae or even imminent vertebral instability caused by osteolyses were seen as indications for kyphoplasty. One case of pulmonary embolism was observed because of cement leakage as the only postoperative complication.


CONCLUSIONS
By careful interdisciplinary indication setting and a standardized treatment model, kyphoplasty presents a very safe and effective procedure for the treatment of vertebral osteolyses and fractures caused by MM.
Division of Traumatology and Reconstructive Surgery, Surgical Clinic, University of Heidelberg, Germany. franz-xaver.huber@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Franz-Xaver
FX
Huber
Nicholas
N
McArthur
Michael
M
Tanner
Bernd
B
Gritzbach
Oliver
O
Schoierer
Wolfram
W
Rothfischer
Gerhard
G
Krohmer
Erich
E
Lessl
Martin
M
Baier
Peter Jürgen
PJ
Meeder
Christian
C
Kasperk
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*