title: Therapeutic effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have performed percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for patients with vertebral metastases since 2002. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of PV on vertebral metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective (2002-2008) review was conducted for 69 consecutive patients with 141 metastatic vertebrae treated with PV using PMMA. The clinical background of the patients, visual analog scale (VAS), improvement rate, outcomes, and complications were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean preoperative VAS score was 7.3 and significantly improved to 1.9 postoperatively (at discharge), with a mean improvement rate of 73.3%. With regard to complications, no new fractures of adjacent vertebral bodies were encountered, but cement leakage was seen in 49% of the patients. Most patients were asymptomatic during the postoperative course, although two patients (3%) experienced dyspnea that was suspected to be adult respiratory distress syndrome or a pulmonary embolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PV can offer pain relief to patients with painful vertebral metastases and short life expectancy whose general condition makes surgery difficult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Luke's International Hospital, 9-1 Akashicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8560, Japan. yumikami@luke.or.jp
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Numaguchi
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Sokun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuwa
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoshikawa
authors.forename: Yukihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate