Percutaneous vertebroplasty: treatment of painful vertebral compression fractures with intraosseous vacuum phenomena

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty in treating patients with painful compression fractures of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae that contain intraosseous vacuum phenomena. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen cases of painful vertebral compression fractures with intraosseous phenomena occurring in 18 patients (six men, 12 women; age range, 59-88 years; mean age, 75.5 years) were identified from 393 percutaneous vertebroplasties performed in 199 patients during 32 and a half months. All patients had osteoporosis, with severe vertebral compression to less than one third of the vertebral body height in 13 of 19 cases. Affected levels were T6 (n = 1), T8 (n = 2), T9 (n = 1), T11 (n = 1), T12 (n = 4), L1 (n = 5), L2 (n = 2), L3 (n = 1), L4 (n = 1), and L5 (n = 1). All cases had the typical intravertebral body vacuum cleft appearance on radiographs. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean volume of polymethyl methacrylate injected was 7.43 mL (range, 4.0-15.0 mL). Typically, the polymethyl methacrylate filled the intravertebral vacuum cleft. Complications during radiography consisted of minimal polymethyl methacrylate leakage into the adjacent disk (15/19 cases) and the paravertebral soft tissues (8/19 cases). No complications required surgical intervention. At clinical follow-up, pain relief was complete in eight patients (44.4%), partial in six patients (33.3%), and unchanged in four patients (22.2%). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is effective in the treatment of patients with painful vertebral compression fractures with intraosseous vacuum phenomena.     

经皮椎体成形术在椎体压缩骨折及椎体血管瘤治疗中的应用

目的:总结经皮椎体成形术治疗疼痛性椎体压缩性骨折和疼痛性椎体血管瘤的临床经验,评估其治疗疗效。方法:回顾性分析26例疼痛性椎体压缩性骨折和3例疼痛性椎体血管瘤的椎体成形术治疗病例。病椎39个,其中胸椎18个,腰椎21个,36个采用单侧椎弓根入路,3个采用双侧椎弓根入路。结果:29例治疗均获得成功,注射骨水泥2.5~5.0ml,平均3.2ml。术后随访6~12个月,完全缓解(CR)、部分缓解(PR)、轻微缓解(MR)和无效(NR)例数分别为24、3、2、0,疼痛缓解率93.1%。患者的视觉模拟评分(VAS)术后显著下降(P0.05)。结论:采用经皮椎体成形术治疗疼痛性椎体压缩性骨折及疼痛性椎体血管瘤是一种微创、安全、有效的治疗手段。     

Treatment of severe vertebral body compression fractures with percutaneous vertebroplasty

Objective  

Evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty for severe vertebral body compression fractures.     

Treatment of chronic symptomatic vertebral compression fractures with percutaneous vertebroplasty

OBJECTIVE: Most fractures treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty are subacute and less than 1 year old. We report our experience treating chronic vertebral fractures with vertebroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our database identified 41 patients with symptomatic fractures more than 1 year old. These patients were categorized into subgroups determined by fracture age: 12 months 1 day-24 months (n = 16) or more than 24 months 1 day (n = 25). Changes in pain and mobility for the study group were compared with those in 49 patients with fractures less than 1 year old. RESULTS: Thirty-three (80%) of the 41 patients in the study group had improvement in pain-seven (17%) had complete and 26 (63%) had partial relief. Forty-five (92%) of the 49 control group patients had improvement in pain-24 (49%) had complete and 21 (43%) had partial relief. The number of patients achieving partial or complete relief of pain was not statistically different between groups (p > 0.05), although complete relief was significantly more frequent in the control group (p = 0.002). Twenty patients (49%) in the study group versus 34 patients (69%) in the control group had improved mobility after vertebroplasty (p = 0.047). Patients with fractures 12 months 1 day-24 months old had improvement in mobility similar to that in patients in the control group (p = 0.962). Fractures more than 24 months 1 day old were associated with significantly less improvement in mobility (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Most patients with fractures more than 1 year old will experience clinical benefit from vertebroplasty. Complete relief of pain is more likely when less mature fractures are treated.     

Prospective clinical follow-up after percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess short-term, midterm, and long-term pain relief in patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain at the treated vertebral level, analgesic use, and satisfaction with outcome were assessed in 112 patients after PV of 168 VCFs. Serial follow-up was performed at 24 hours and 3, 6, and 12 months and in a small number of patients at 1-3 years. Procedure-related complications were evaluated by physical examination and computed tomography of treated levels. RESULTS: After PV, VAS scores for pain at the individual vertebral levels treated and use of analgesic agents were significantly reduced compared with before treatment at every follow-up period. Within 24 hours after the procedure, the decreases in all scores were less compared with scores at later follow-up periods, but this was not significant. The preprocedural mean VAS score was 8.8 (range, 5-10). At follow-up, mean VAS scores ranged from 2.5 to 3.3 (range, 0-10). In the short term after PV, patients used significantly less analgesic drugs and 86% of patients were satisfied with the outcome. At midterm and long-term follow-up, patients used even less analgesic drugs and 95%-100% of patients were satisfied with the outcome of PV. Procedure-related complications with clinical consequences occurred in three patients (2.7%): one patient experienced a cardiovascular reaction, one patient had a pedicle chip fracture, and one had a rib fracture. CONCLUSION: PV of painful osteoporotic VCFs provides significant pain reduction in nearly all treated patients.     

椎体成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的生命质量评价

目的 评价经皮椎体成形术(PVP)治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的长期生活质量.方法 随访PVP治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折患者183例,获得完整随访资料25例,用形象类比(VAS)评价术前、术后不同时期的疼痛程度,用日常生活自理能力(ADL)和下腰部功能活动障碍(OLBPDQ)量表分别观察患者术前、术后大于1年的生活质量,并观察骨水泥渗漏对生命质量的影响.结果 术后末次随访平均36.5个月(13～42个月).术前、术后1 d、3、6个月及1年以上随访时VAS疼痛分值分别为8.96±1.11、4.58±2.56、3.16±2.28、2.11±0.27、1.63±0.21;ADL量表(Barthel指数)术前、术后分别为54.34±13.21、84.28±18.30,较术前提高了55%;OLBPDQ量表(ODI指数)术前、术后分别为25.64±13.84、17.52±10.71,较术前下降了32%.两组间P值均＜0.05.术后CT证实少量骨水泥渗漏5例,平均随访32个月均无临床症状.结论 PVP术治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折不仅可迅速缓解患者疼痛,而且可长期提高患者生活质量;少量无症状的骨水泥渗漏对患者长期生命质量无明显影响.     

Comparative study of percutaneous vertebral body perforation and vertebroplasty for the treatment of painful vertebral compression fractures

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Percutaneous vertebral body perforation is a new technique for treating painful VCFs. Herein, we compare the therapeutic effect of vertebral perforation and conventional vertebroplasty for treating VCFs.MATERIALS AND METHODS:One hundred eight patients with single painful VCFs were assigned to undergo vertebral perforation (perforation group) or vertebroplasty (PVP group). Clinical outcomes were assessed by using the VAS. The associations of analgesic effect and clinical factors were also analyzed by multivariate regression. Plain radiographs were used to quantify the progression of vertebral body compression after surgery and to evaluate cement leakage and new vertebral fractures. The median follow-up time was 10 months.RESULTS:Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. No factors correlated with analgesic effects in the PVP group. The analgesic effect of vertebral perforation was, however, related to the preoperative severity of vertebral compression and was low in patients with severe deformity (P < .05). Among patients with preoperative vertebral percentage of compression below 30%, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in analgesic effect at any postoperative intervals. Progression of vertebral compression after surgery occurred in 22.2% and 16.0% of treated vertebrae in the perforation and PVP groups, respectively (P = .38). Respectively, 3.7% and 20.0% of the perforation and PVP groups had new postoperative fractures during follow-up (P < .05). There were no other complications.CONCLUSIONS:Vertebral perforation was safe and effective for painful VCFs with slight compression. However, vertebroplasty should be considered for patients with marked vertebral body compression.

Vertebroplasty using bone cement has been performed worldwide to control pain due to osteoporotic VCFs resistant to conservative treatment.^1–8 While marked analgesic effect and improvement in ADL are apparent immediately after vertebroplasty, problems including postoperative fractures of adjacent vertebral bodies, pulmonary embolism due to leakage of bone cement out of the vertebral body, and symptoms of spinal cord compression have been reported.^9–11 In particular, postoperative fractures have been reported to occur in 41%–67% of patients, suggesting that the treatment itself may induce new fractures.^12–14 Because no effective method of avoiding such fractures has been established, to our knowledge, this complication is currently a major limitation of vertebroplasty. Thus, breakthroughs to overcome this problem are awaited.Fracture pain and increased intraosseous pressure have long been regarded as being closely related. In fact, there have been a number of reports evaluating increased intraosseous vertebral pressure in VCFs.^15–23 Intraosseous decompression for the treatment of fracture pain is thought to have therapeutic benefits and is covered by medical insurance in Japan. It is well-known that there is no dose-escalation effect of bone cement used for the treatment of VCFs.^24,25 Furthermore, we have actually experienced some patients who obtained a remarkable analgesic effect despite injection of a small amount of bone cement into painful fractured vertebrae. We aimed at reducing increased intraosseous vertebral pressure, which was a cause of pain in this study. We prospectively performed percutaneous vertebral body perforations without bone cement in patients with VCFs resistant to conservative treatment. We evaluated the therapeutic effects, complications, and factors affecting its analgesic effect and compared them with those of conventional vertebroplasty.     

经皮椎体成形术在多节段椎体骨折中的应用

目的探讨经皮椎体成形术(PVP)治疗多节段骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的安全性及疗效。方法回顾性分析PVP治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折患者86例,其中23例患者为多节段椎体骨折。分析患者术前、术中、术后的临床及影像学资料。采用模拟视觉评分(VAS)及Oswesty功能障碍指数(ODI)评价术后疼痛缓解及日常活动功能恢复情况。结果19例患者一次手术完成3节椎体,4例患者一次手术完成4节椎体。3例患者术中出现一过性血压升高和呼吸困难。术前VAS评分及ODI值平均8.58±1.12、81.43±12.54,术后1d平均为3.03±0.98、31.04±11.11,疼痛缓解及日常活动功能恢复显著。5例患者1年内出现再发椎体压缩骨折。13节椎体发生骨水泥外漏。结论PVP是治疗多节段骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折安全、有效的方法。必须注意脂肪栓塞并发症,一次手术至多完成3节椎体。     

疼痛性骨质疏松压缩骨折的椎体成形术治疗

目的 :探讨经皮穿刺椎体成形术在治疗疼痛性骨质疏松椎体压缩骨折中的效用。方法 :4年内 3 1例存在 2个月以上腰背部疼痛药物止痛效果不佳伴活动障碍患者 ,经临床、CT及MRI评价为骨质疏松椎体压缩 ,在CT引导下完成经皮穿刺椎体成形术 3 9例次。男 14例 ,女 17例 ,年龄 5 8～ 81岁 ,平均 67.3岁。治疗效果采用Huskisson止痛视觉评价法评估。结果 :2 0例疼痛缓解停用止痛药 ;8例患者疼痛减轻 ,其中 6例用药量下降或降级使用 ;3例变化不大 ,总有效率 90 .3 %。随访 2个月～ 4年 ,治疗部位症状无复发 ,1例患者 3个月后由于相邻椎体出现新的压缩而疼痛复发 ,二次治疗好转。结论 :经皮穿刺椎体成形术治疗骨质疏松椎体压缩是一种微创操作 ,可以立即缓解疼痛并使患者很快恢复运动 ;是一种有价值的治疗骨质疏松压缩骨折的方法     

应用经皮椎体成形术及SKy椎体后凸成形术治疗胸腰椎压缩性骨折

目的探讨微创法经皮椎体成形术(PVP)及SKy骨膨胀椎体后凸成形术(SKy-PKP)治疗胸腰椎压缩性骨折的临床疗效。方法应用微创法治疗胸腰椎压缩性骨折患者38例,其中经皮椎体成形术治疗25例,SKy骨膨胀椎体后凸成形术治疗13例。术后随访3~20个月,平均14个月,记录对比疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)及伤椎形态变化。结果所有患者手术均获成功,无神经损伤并发症,伤椎处疼痛术后均获得快速显著缓解。VAS评分平均改变PVP组从6.6±2.9降至1.7±1.6,SKy-PKP组从6.9±2.9降至1.8±1.5;伤椎压缩恢复程度PVP组伤椎Cobb角平均改善11°,SKy-PKP组伤椎Cobb角平均改善18°。随访期间,疗效均满意,无手术后遗症及伤椎高度明显丢失情况。结论采用微创法PVP及SKy-PKP治疗胸腰椎压缩性骨折能够迅速缓解疼痛,增加椎体的稳定性。PVP主要适合于创伤或病理性新鲜压缩性骨折;SKy-PKP适应证较广,也可适用于新鲜及陈旧性压缩性骨折。     

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for severe osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty in treating severe vertebral body compression fractures, or vertebra plana, in patients with osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 155 patients, 310 percutaneous vertebroplasties were performed during 25 months and 15 days. Of these, 37 patients (27 women, 10 men; mean age, 73.6 years) underwent 48 vertebroplasties for severe osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures. The fractures were defined as vertebrae that have collapsed to less than one-third of their original height. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed, including the extent of vertebral collapse, location of the involved vertebra, pattern of vertebral compression, volume of polymethylmethacrylate injected, vertebroplasty complications, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Vertebral body collapse averaged 23% (range, 4.5%-33.0%) of the original height. Involved vertebrae were located from levels T5 to L5, with one-half affected at the thoracolumbar junction. Patterns of vertebral compression were divided into gibbus (31 of 48 or 65%), plana (13 of 48 or 27%), and H shape (four of 48 or 8%). The mean volume of the cement injected was 6.0 mL (range, 1.5-12.5 mL). Complications observed on radiographs included cement leakage to the adjacent disc (17 of 48 or 35%) and the paravertebral soft tissues (four of 48 or 8%). There were no major complications. At clinical follow-up (mean duration, 11 months and 3 days; range, 3-24 months), pain relief was complete in 14 (47%) of 30 patients, partial in 15 (50%), and unchanged in one (3%). No patient required surgery. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous vertebroplasty for severe osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures is safe and effective and should not be withheld in this group of patients.     

经皮穿刺椎体成形术治疗椎体骨质疏松性压缩骨折

目的　通过X线透视下进行经皮穿刺椎体成形术治疗椎体骨质疏松性压缩骨折 ,探讨该技术的临床疗效及应用注意事项。　方法　本组 2 3例 ( 44个椎体 ) ,男 8例 ,女 15例 ;年龄 48～ 83岁 ,平均 6 9岁。脊柱骨折部位为T5～L3,其中胸椎 2 0个椎体 ,腰椎 2 4个椎体。采用C形臂X线机透视引导下于俯卧位或侧卧位进行经皮穿刺椎体成形术 ,注射聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (骨水泥 )。在术前、术后 2d、随访期进行疼痛视觉类比评分 (VAS)、活动能力评分和止痛药使用评分。随访时间 1～ 7个月 ,平均 3.1个月。　结果　 2 1例 40个椎体手术成功 ,2例 ( 4个椎体 )因不能耐受俯卧位而手术失败。骨水泥注射量 1.0～ 8.0ml 椎体。VAS术前 ( 7.5± 1.2 ) ,术后 2d ( 2 .8± 1.0 )较术前显著下降 (P <0 .0 0 1) ;随访时为 2 .3± 0 .9,比术后 2d又略有下降。活动能力评分 ,术后 2d ( 1.6± 0 .3)较术前 ( 2 .3± 0 .8)明显改善 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;随访时为 1.4± 0 .4,行动能力进一步改善。止痛药使用评分 ,术后 2d ( 0 .6± 0 .6 )较术前 ( 2 .2± 0 .5 )显著改善 (P <0 .0 1) ;随访时为 0 .8± 0 .6 ,与术后比较无显著变化。　结论　经皮穿刺椎体成形术是治疗椎体骨质疏松性压缩骨折的有效微创技术 ,单平面C形臂X线机透视监视即可满足     

CT-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty in the therapy of vertebral compression fractures

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of CT-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. The primary objectives were pain reduction and bone-cement leakage during a long-term follow-up in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. CT-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty was carried out in 61 patients (mean age 71.4 years; range 42–83; female ratio: 73.8%) with vertebral compression fractures. Treatment was carried out on an outpatient basis. Pain, bone-cement leakage and complications were monitored and recorded. The mean follow-up time was 19.8 months (range 3–52). Paired comparison procedures were used for the analysis of the results, which showed that all patients had a significant reduction of pain. The mean visual-analogue scale (VAS) before treatment was 8.8 points (range 6.5–9.8 points). The mean VAS score after treatment was significantly reduced to 2.6 points (range 1.5–4.1 points; p<0.01). No clinical or neurological complications were documented. Minor and asymptomatic bone-cement leakage was observed in 54% of the cases. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an efficient and safe interventional procedure which rapidly improves the mobility and quality of life of patients with vertebral compression fractures. CT-guidance is a reasonable upgrade in the treatment procedure which reduces the amount of bone-cement leakage.T.J. Vogl and D. Proschek contributed equally to this work.     

Coaxial biopsy during percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with presumed osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: retrospective review of biopsy results

Purpose

This study retrospectively analysed the results of biopsies obtained during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with presumed osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, with a view to highlighting the importance of coaxial biopsy in determining the aetiology of vertebral fractures and planning subsequent treatment.

Materials and methods

Between November 2003 and March 2009, 98 patients (78 women; 20 men) with a clinical and imaging suspicion of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures underwent coaxial biopsy in conjunction with PVP of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Mean age at the time of the procedure was 72.6 years. A pathologist interpreted all the biopsy samples.

Results

In 83 patients, the biopsy results were consistent with the presumed osteoporotic aetiology. In two patients, a malignancy was identified. Biopsy samples from 13 patients were considered insufficient or unsuitable by the pathologist for evaluation.

Conclusions

Despite the number of biopsy samples considered insufficient or unsuitable, coaxial biopsy during PVP is useful in verifying the presumed aetiology of vertebral compression fractures, which is often unclear on the basis of clinical and imaging examinations. It is therefore both convenient and advisable to perform a vertebral coaxial biopsy in all patients undergoing a PVP.