title: A prospective study of percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with myeloma and spinal metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess patient outcome in a consecutive series of patients with myeloma and spinal metastases who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were gathered prospectively on all patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty between June 2001 and June 2010. Outcome measures included visual analogue pain scores (VAS) and Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) in patients treated since 2005 as well as complications and long-term outcome in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-eight patients underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty for myeloma (n=41) or spinal metastases (n=87) over a 9 year period. VAS scores fell from 7.75 ± 1.88 pre-vertebroplasty to 4.77 ± 2.69 post-vertebroplasty (p=0.001). RDQ scores improved from 18.55 ± 4.79 to 13.5 ± 6.96 (p=0.001). Complications were recorded in three patients: cement extension to vena cava (n=1), local haematoma (n=1), and loss of sensation over T1 dermatome (n=1). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of 5 year survival post-vertebroplasty was 40% for patients with myeloma and 25% for those with metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This large prospective study demonstrates percutaneous vertebroplasty reduces pain and improves disability in patients from intractable pain from myeloma or spinal metastases and now forms an important part of the multimodality treatment for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK. chewszewan@aol.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate