title: Management of cement vertebroplasty in the treatment of vertebral hemangioma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vertebral hemangiomas are benign vascular lesions occurring in spine. Although uncommon, symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas can be painful and can limit daily activities. A number of methods have been used in the treatment of symptomatic and aggressive vertebral hemangioma, but none of them is optimal. Treatment with cement vertebroplasty showed very good results. This study aims to illustrate the validity of the treatment with cement vertebroplasty in patients with painful vertebral hemangiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2000 to January 2007, 24 patients were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty because of hemangioma: 16 thoracic, 8 lumbar. There were 11 males and 13 females. The average age at the time of surgery was 48 years. All the patients complained of a pain syndrome resistant to continuing medication. All patients underwent X-ray examination, CT-scan and MR of the involved level preoperatively. A unipedicular approach under fluoroscopic guidance has been performed in all patients. All procedures have been carried out under the local anesthesia. The mean follow-up was 5.8 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all the patients a successful outcome has been observed with a complete resolution of pain symptom. Extravertebral vascular cement leakage has been observed in 3 patients, without any clinical radicular syndrome onset due to the epidural diffusion. Clinical and radiological follow-up showed stability of the treatment and absence of pain in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous treatment with vertebroplasty for symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas is a valuable, less-invasive, and a quick method that allows a complete and enduring resolution of the painful vertebral symptoms without findings of the vertebral body's fracture.
authors: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Split and Split University School of Medicine, Split, Croatia.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Boschi
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Pogorelić
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Gulan
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Perko
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Grandić
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Radonić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements