title: Effectiveness of a bone substitute (CERAMENT™) as an alternative to PMMA in percutaneous vertebroplasty: 1-year follow-up on clinical outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an injectable and partly absorbable calcium bone cement (CERAMENT™, Bone Support, Sweden) in the treatment of osteoporotic or traumatic vertebral fractures by percutaneous vertebroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2009 to October 2010 an open, prospective study in two centres was performed. 33 patients with symptomatic vertebral fractures were enrolled. Patients were included based on evaluation by X-ray, CT, and MRI. Clinical evaluation by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-10) and Oswestry Disability index test (ODI, 0-100 %) was performed before the operation as well as 1, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. Radiology assessment post-procedure was carried out by X-ray, CT, and MRI at 1, 6 and 12 months post-op. Intake of analgesic medications pre- and post-procedure was monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  66 vertebral bodies underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty. VAS score demonstrated a significant decrease from 8.61 (SD 19.8) pre-operatively to 2.48 (SD 2.36) at 1 month. The score was 2.76 (SD 2.68) at 6 months and 1.36 (SD 1.33) at the latest follow up. ODI score dropped significantly from 58.86 pre-op to 26.94 at 6 months and further down to 7.61 at 12 months. No re-fractures or adjacent level fractures were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data show that CERAMENT can be a substitute of PMMA in the treatment of osteoporotic and traumatic vertebral fractures, especially in young patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, S Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy. stemarcia@gmail.com
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcia
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dragani
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Giovanni Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Anselmetti
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate