Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty in Spinal Trauma

Abstract Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty have become recognized procedures for the treatment of vertebral fractures, especially in patients with osteoporosis. In most cases of osteoporotic spinal vertebral fracture in elderly patients, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement is used to fill the defect and stabilize the vertebral body. The techniques of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty differ in the possibility of realignment and reconstruction of the vertebral body and spinal column. Long-term results in terms of integration of the cement and bioreactivity of the vertebral body are still lacking; so, these procedures are still no options in the treatment of younger patients. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty show different success in the management of fresh traumatic spine fractures. The acute traumatic vertebral fracture has to be classified sensitively, to find the right indication for cement augmentation. Mild acute compression fractures can be treated by vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, severe compression and burst fractures by combination of internal fixation and kyphoplasty. The indications for use of biological or osteoinductive cement in spinal fracture management must still be regarded as restricted owing to the lack of basic biomechanical research data. Such cement should not be used except in clinical studies.     

Risk factors for newly developed osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures following treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Background context

It has been reported that newly developed osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) occur at a relatively high frequency after treatment. While there are many reports on possible risk factors, these have not yet been clearly established.

Bone Cement Dislodgement: One of Complications Following Bone Cement Augmentation Procedures for Osteoporotic Spinal Fracture

Bone cement augmentation procedures have been getting more position as a minimally invasive surgical option for osteoporotic spinal fractures. However, complications related to these procedures have been increasingly reported. We describe a case of bone cement dislodgement following cement augmentation procedure for osteoporotic spinal fracture by reviewing the patient''s medical records, imaging results and related literatures. A 73-year-old woman suffering back and buttock pain following a fall from level ground was diagnosed as an osteoporotic fracture of the 11th thoracic spine. Percutaneous kyphoplasty was performed for this lesion. Six weeks later, the patient complained of a recurrence of back and buttock pain. Radiologic images revealed superior dislodgement of bone cement through the 11th thoracic superior endplate with destruction of the lower part of the 10th thoracic spine. Staged anterior and posterior fusion was performed. Two years postoperatively, the patient carries on with her daily living without any significant disability. Delayed bone cement dislodgement can occur as one of complications following bone cement augmentation procedure for osteoporotic spinal fracture. It might be related to the presence of intravertebral cleft, lack of interdigitation of bone cement with the surrounding trabeculae, and possible damage of endplate during ballooning procedure.     

单双侧椎体后凸成形术治疗骨质疏松性胸腰椎压缩骨折的疗效分析

目的 对比单双侧椎体后凸成形术(PKP)治疗骨质疏松性单一胸腰椎压缩骨折的临床疗效.方法 回顾性分析自2010-06-2013-04北京积水潭医院脊柱科诊治的PKP患者451例,分为单侧和双侧入路组.评价指标:手术时间、透视次数、骨水泥量、VAS评分、椎体高度、Cobb角及骨水泥渗漏.结果 所有患者均顺利完成手术.平均手术时间、骨水泥填充量、平均手术时间、骨水泥注射量、X线曝光时间2组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).2组术后VAS评分、平均椎体高度、Cobb角较术前显著改善,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).2组骨水泥渗漏率相似,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 单侧入路行PKP治疗骨质疏松性单椎体骨折比双侧入路具有手术时间更短、X线放射次数更少等优点,能取得经双侧入路穿刺相似的治疗效果.     

Depression of the Thoracolumbar Posterior Vertebral Body on the Estimation of Cement Leakage in Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Operations

Background:

The cross-section of thoracolumbar vertebral body is kidney-shaped with depressed posterior boundary. The anterior wall of the vertebral canal is separated from the posterior wall of the vertebral body on the lateral X-ray image. This study was designed to determine the sagittal distance between the anterior border of the vertebral canal and the posterior border of the vertebral body (DBCV) and to analyze the potential role of DBCV in the estimation of cement leakage during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).

Methods:

We retrospectively recruited 233 patients who had osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and were treated with PVP or PKP. Computed tomography images of T11–L2 normal vertebrae were measured to obtain DBCV. The distance from cement to the posterior wall of the vertebral body (DCPW) of thoracolumbar vertebrae was measured from C-arm images. The selected vertebrae were divided into two groups according to DCPW, with the fracture levels, fracture grades and leakage rates of the two groups compared. A relative operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to determine whether the DCPW difference can be used to estimate the degree of cement leakage. The data were processed by statistical software SPSS version 21.0 using independent sample t-test and Chi-square tests.

Results:

The maximum DBCV was 6.40 mm and the average DBCV was 3.74 ± 0.95 mm. DBCV appeared to be longer in males than in females, but the difference was not statistically significant. The average DCPW of type-B leakage vertebrae (2.59 ± 1.20 mm) was shorter than that of other vertebrae (7.83 ± 2.38 mm, P < 0.001). The leakage rate of group DCPW ≤6.40 mm was lower than that of group DCPW >6.40 mm for type-C and type-S, but much higher for type-B. ROC curve revealed that DCPW only has a predictive value for type-B leakage (area under the curve: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.95–0.99, P < 0.001), and when the cut-off value was 4.05 mm, the diagnostic sensitivity and the specificity were 94.87% and 93.02%, respectively.

Conclusions:

Depression of the thoracolumbar posterior vertebral body may be informative for the estimation of cement location on C-arm images. To reduce type-B leakage, DCPW should be made longer than DBCV on C-arm images for safety during PVP or PKP.     

Usefulness of Prone Cross-Table Lateral Radiographs in Vertebral Compression Fractures

Background

Dynamic radiographs are recommended to investigate non-healing evidence such as the dynamic mobility or intravertebral clefts in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). However, it is difficult to examine standing flexion and extension lateral radiographs due to severe pain. The use of prone cross-table lateral radiographs (PrLRs) as a diagnostic tool has never been proposed to our knowledge. The purpose of this study is to clarify the usefulness of PrLRs in diagnosis and treatment of VCFs.

Methods

We reviewed 62 VCF patients examined with PrLRs between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2011. To compare the degree of pain provoked between standing extension lateral radiographs (StLRs) and PrLRs, numeric rating scale (NRS) scores were assessed and compared by a paired t-test. Vertebroplasty was done for 40 patients and kyphoplasty was done for 9 patients with routine manners. To assess the degree of postural reduction, vertebral wedge angles (VWA) and vertebral height ratios (VHR) were calculated by using preoperative StLRs, PrLRs, and postoperative lateral radiographs. Two variables derived from changes in VWA and VHR between preoperative and postoperative radiographs were compared by a paired t-test.

Results

The average NRS scores were 6.23 ± 1.67 in StLRs and 5.18 ± 1.47 in PrLRs. The degree of pain provocation was lower in using PrLRs than StLRs (p < 0.001). The average changes of VWA between preoperative and postoperative status were 5.24° ± 6.16° with PrLRs and 3.46° ± 3.47° with StLRs. The average changes of VHR were 0.248 ± 0.178 with PrLRs and 0.148 ± 0.161 with StLRs. The comparisons by two variables showed significant differences for both parameters (p = 0.021 and p < 0.001, respectively). The postoperative radiological status was reflected more precisely when using PrLRs than StLRs.

Conclusions

In comparison with StLR, the PrLR was more accurate in predicting the degree of restoration of postoperative vertebral heights and wedge angles, and provoked less pain during examination. The PrLR could be a useful diagnostic tool to detect intravertebral cleft or intravertebral dynamic instability.     

迟发性骨质疏松性椎体塌陷的手术方式选择

目的:探讨迟发性骨质疏松性椎体塌陷的手术方式选择及临床疗效。方法:自2010年5月至2014年10月,对19例患者20个椎体的迟发性骨质疏松性椎体塌陷(Kümmell病)进行手术治疗,其中男7例,女12例;年龄65~87岁,平均(73.45±5.62)岁。按Li分期:Ⅱ期3例,Ⅲ期不伴神经功能损害13例14个椎体,Ⅲ期伴脊髓损害3例。规定术中体位复位满意者选择经皮椎体成形术(PVP组),体位复位不满意者采用经皮球囊扩张椎体后凸成形术(PKP组)。观察骨水泥灌注量、骨水泥渗漏、椎体高度恢复及后凸畸形矫正。采用疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS),Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI),脊髓神经功能Frankel分级来评价临床疗效。结果 :7个椎体行PVP,13个椎体行PKP,Ⅲ期3例合并脊髓损害者均同时联合后路减压短节段椎弓根螺钉固定术。术后随访10~48个月,平均21.2个月。共发生4个无症状骨水泥渗漏,其中PVP组1个(1/7),PKP组3个(3/13),两组比较差异无统计学意义(P=0.561)。PVP组骨水泥灌注量(6.40±术后3 d和术前比较椎体高度恢复(31.71±11.35)%,后凸畸形纠正(9.79±4.64)°,PKP组分别为(5.46±0.94)ml,1.09)ml、(24.77±8.51)%、(8.15±2.97)°,两组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。术后3 d患者腰背痛VAS评分和ODI均较术前明显改善,两组间比较差异无统计学意义,末次随访时VAS评分和ODI与术后3 d比较差异无统计学意义。3例减压内固定术患者神经功能均由术前Frankel D级恢复至E级。结论:根据Li分期结合术中体位复位情况对迟发性骨质疏松性椎体塌陷患者进行个体化手术可以获得良好的临床疗效。术中体位复位不良可能是骨水泥渗漏的危险因素。     

压力引导式经皮椎体后凸成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折

目的探讨压力引导式经皮椎体后凸成形术(PKP)治疗合并周壁破损的骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折(OVCF)的临床疗效及骨水泥渗漏情况。方法回顾性分析2015年9月-2018年9月采用压力引导式PKP治疗的89例合并周壁破损的OVCF患者临床资料,依据术前CT显示的椎体周壁破损部位进行分组,前壁并侧壁破损46例(A组),前壁并终板破损20例(B组),前壁、侧壁并后壁破损23例(C组)。记录所有患者术前骨密度、术中骨水泥用量、手术时间及住院时间。测量手术前后X线片上病变节段椎体前缘高度、中央高度及伤椎后凸Cobb角等参数,评估伤椎恢复情况;在术后CT上观察骨水泥渗漏情况。采用疼痛视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分和Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)评估临床疗效。结果所有手术顺利完成,患者随访3~20(11.60±5.58)个月。手术时间30~90(60.30±10.62)min,住院时间4~8(6.10±1.01)d。3组患者术后1 d和术后3个月的椎体前缘高度、椎体中央高度、伤椎后凸Cobb角、VAS评分、ODI较术前明显改善,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。3组骨水泥注入量和骨水泥渗漏率组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。A组发生骨水泥渗漏6例,4例沿椎前渗漏,2例沿椎体侧方渗漏;B组发生2例,均沿上终板渗漏至椎间隙;C组发生3例,2例沿椎前渗漏,1例沿椎体侧方渗漏。所有患者切口均一期愈合,无骨水泥致脏器栓塞、神经根受压等并发症发生。结论压力引导式PKP治疗合并周壁破损的OVCF,临床疗效及影像学指标恢复满意,骨水泥渗漏率低,值得临床推广。     

Management of thoracolumbar spine fractures

Background contextTraumatic fractures of the spine are most common at the thoracolumbar junction and can be a source of great disability.PurposeTo review the most current information regarding the pathophysiology, injury pattern, treatment options, and outcomes.Study designLiterature review.MethodsRelevant articles, textbook chapters, and abstracts covering thoracolumbar spine fractures with and without neurologic deficit from 1960 to the present were reviewed.ResultsThe thoracolumbar spine represents a unique system from a skeletal as well as neurological standpoint. The rigid rib-bearing thoracic spine articulates with the more mobile lumbar spine at the thoracolumbar junction (T10 - L2), the site of most fractures. A complete examination includes a careful neurologic examination of both motor and sensory systems. CT scans best describe bony detail while MRI is most efficient at describing soft tissues and neurological structures. The most recent classification system is that of the new Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score. The different fracture types include compression fractures, burst fractures - both stable and unstable -, flexion-distraction injuries and fracture dislocations. Their treatment, both operative and non-operative depends on the degree of bony compromise, neurological involvement, and the integrity of the posterior ligamentous complex. Minimally invasive approaches to the care of thoracolumbar injuries have become more popular, thus, the evidence regarding their efficacy is presented. Finally, the treatment of osteoporotic fractures of the thoracolumbar spine is reviewed, including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, their risks and controversies, and senile burst fractures, as well.ConclusionsThoracolumbar spine fractures remain a significant source of potential morbidity. Advances in treatment have minimized the invasiveness of our surgery and in certain stable situations, eliminated it all together.