title: Percutaneous consolidation of loosened spine arthrodesis under CT and fluoroscopy guidance by radiologists: a new useful technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to evaluate percutaneous computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy-guided injection of bone cement for consolidation of loosened posterior arthrodesis performed by radiologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-centre prospective study involving four consecutive patients (three women, one man) suffering from screw loosening (three at the vertebral level, one at the iliac wing level) after Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) treatment was done. The average age was 80 years. Surgical treatment was not indicated or not wished for by the patients. Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Percutaneous consolidation was performed by an interventional radiologist under CT and fluoroscopy guidance. The path of the trocars was made outside loosened screws bilaterally. Follow-up was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases, bone cement was successfully placed around the loosened screw. The mean volume of cement that was injected was 3 ml. No cement leakage was observed. No neurological complication occurred. Using VAS, pain decreased from more than 9/10 preoperatively to less than 2/10 the day after the procedure for all patients (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that loosening of spine arthrodesis could be successfully treated by percutaneous injection of bone cement under CT and fluoroscopy guidance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • PLIF is one of the surgical techniques for spinal arthrodesis. • Treatment indications are degenerative disease or instability following trauma, tumour, or infection. • Screw loosening is a frequent complication that can occur after surgery. • Percutaneous facet consolidation under dual guidance seems to be a feasible technique. • The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia using a minimally invasive approach.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France, amorettinicolas@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amoretti
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Amandine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caudal
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cornelis
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hauger
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boileau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000818:Animals; D001174:Arthrodesis; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements