Heterotopic ossifications after vertebroplasty using calcium phosphate in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: Report of 2 cases.
BACKGROUND
Recently, calcium phosphate (CaP) cement, instead of polymethylmethacrylate, has been injected into the compressed vertebral body. Calcium phosphate may have the potential for ectopic or heterotopic ossification and, thus, injected CaP cement can induce unwanted heterotopic ossifications in the human body.


METHODS
The authors describe 2 cases of heterotopic ossifications after vertebroplasty using CaP in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We performed percutaneous vertebroplasty using CaP cement in a 69-year-old woman with L2 compression fracture and an 80-year-old man with L1 compression fracture. Follow-up radiologic studies for both cases showed that heterotopic ossifications had developed around the CaP-augmented vertebral bodies and that the cemented vertebral bodies had recollapsed. Also, subsequent vertebral compression fractures had occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that heterotopic ossification may be complications of vertebroplasty with CaP. Therefore, we strongly recommended that the patients who undergo a vertebroplasty with CaP need strict observation.
Heo
Dong Hwa
DH
Department of Neurosurgery, Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chunchon-shi, Kangwon-do, South Korea. youmans@empal.com
Cho
Sung Min
SM
Cho
Yong Jun
YJ
Cho
Jun Hyeung
JH
Sheen
Seung Hun
SH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate