Percutaneous vertebroplasty: multi-centric results from EVEREST experience in large cohort of patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate results and complications of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) performed in 6 different Italian Centres belonging to the European VErtebroplasty RESearch Team (E.VE.RES.T) in a large series of patients.


METHODS
Follow-up was obtained in 4547 patients (3211 females and 1336 males; mean age 70.2 years) that underwent PV for a total of 13.437 treated vertebrae. Procedures were performed by using fluoroscopic guidance or combined CT-fluoroscopic guidance. All patients underwent PV in local anaesthesia except for second cervical vertebrae treated with a trans-oral approach that required general anaesthesia.


RESULTS
4004 out of 4547 (88.0%) patients reported significant pain relief (difference>or=2 point in pain evaluated with an 11-point visual analogue scale; p<0.0001) within 48 h: an average of 7.7 ± 0.4 dropped to 1.8 ± 0.6 in the osteoporotic patients; 8.3 ± 0.4 to 2.4 ± 0.4 in metastases; 8.3 ± 0.4 to 1.7 ± 1.0 in myeloma; 6.2 ± 3.5 to 0.3 ± 0.2 in angioma and 7.4 ± 0.4 to 1.4 ± 0.9 in trauma. 430 osteoporotic patients (13%) were retreated for a subsequent fracture; in 302/430 patients (70.2%), the new fracture occurred in the contiguous vertebra. No major neurologic complications were reported and the most frequent minor complication was venous leakage (20.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
This large series of patients confirms that percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective and safe procedure in the treatment of vertebral fractures. Best results are obtained in the treatment of myeloma and trauma.
Interventional Radiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Strada Provinciale No. 142, Km. 3, 95, 10060 Candiolo, Turin, Italy. giovanni.anselmetti@ircc.it
Giovanni Carlo
GC
Anselmetti
Stefano
S
Marcia
Luca
L
Saba
Mario
M
Muto
Giuseppe
G
Bonaldi
Paolo
P
Carpeggiani
Stefano
S
Marini
Antonio
A
Manca
Salvatore
S
Masala
D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*