title: Vertebroplasty of cervical vertebra.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The first vertebroplasty was performed by Harve Deramond in France in 1984 due to a hemangioma of cervical vertebral body. Procedure technique consisted of inserting a needle through the bony palate of the oral cavity. Bone cement injected under pressure not only fills the areas of bone loss. The heat released in the process of crystallization causes denaturation of pathological tissue proteins (metastasis) and disrupts blood supply (hemangiomas). The aim of this study was to evaluate the method of treatment from anterolateral access.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the years 2007-2012 the procedure was performed in 6 men and 9 women aged from 42 to 71 years (mean age: 56.3 years). In 10 cases the reason for vertebroplasty was the vertebral hemangioma, in another 4 - pathological vertebral fractures due to metastases, and in one case - multiple myeloma. Procedures were performed from anterolateral access, under local anesthesia, under x-ray guidance (fluoroscopy). Bone needle was inserted into the vertebral body, followed by injection of PMMA cement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 100% cases pain relief was observed immediately after the procedure and beneficial therapeutic effect was obtained. No life-threatening complications and clinical symptoms were observed. Average length hospital stay amounted to 2.9 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical spine vertebroplasty from anterolateral access seems to be a safe, effective and beneficial method of treatment. It reduces the risk of infection in comparison to the transoral method.
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Kazimierz
authors: K
authors: Kordecki
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Lewszuk
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Puławska-Stalmach
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Michalak
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Łukasiewicz
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Izabela
authors: I
authors: Sackiewicz
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Polaków
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Rutka
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Wojciech
authors: W
authors: Łebkowski
authors: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
authors: Urszula
authors: U
authors: Łebkowska
keywords: Bone Cement; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Spinal Interventional Radiology; Vertebroplasty