title: Complications of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in the treatment of vertebral fractures: results of a questionnaire study.
abstract: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) are minimally invasive procedures performed to stabilize vertebral fractures. With continuing expansion in clinical use, a broad spectrum of complications has been reported for both interventions. The goal of the current study was to compare the safety of these procedures using a questionnaire completed by practitioners. A questionnaire was developed with multiple choice and open questions. General data as well as information regarding complications which occurred during the year 2007 were requested. The incidence and odds ratios (OR) of complications for both procedures were analysed. One hundred and sixteen questionnaires detailing 3216 VP and 5139 BKP procedures were included for evaluation. The risk of cement extrusion from the vertebra (OR 2.64, p <0.01) and into the spinal canal (OR 435, p <0.01) was markedly increased for VP. The odds ratio for neurologic complications (OR 2.56, p = 0.1) and secondary fracture (OR = 0.99, p = 0.96) did not indicate significant predisposition for either procedure. Secondary fracture occurred in 5% of VP and 5.1% of BKP procedures. Overall, 80% of practitioners subjectively considered BKP the safer procedure. Overall, BKP appears safer than VP. Symptomatic complications are rare with both procedures. Additional prospective data is necessary to reach more definitive conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne, BMBF 01KN1106, University of Cologne, Germany. kourosh.zarghooni@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarghooni
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siewe
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaulhausen
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sobottke
authors.forename: Peer
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eysel
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Röllinghoff
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements