Percutaneous vertebroplasty with bone cement in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Background. The authors report their own experience with percutaneous vertebroplasty. This is minimally invasive method indicated in treatment of certain spinal lesions affecting the vertebral bodies, as osteoporotic fractures, angiomas, neoplasms. The basic principle of this method is insertion of the needle into the vertebral body by transpediculat access. Needle gives an access for biopsy and therapeutic cement injection. Material and methods. Since October 1999 the authors treated 11 patients with osteoporotic compressive fractures of the spinal column. All patients suffered from severe back pain. Transpedicular insertion of the needle was realized under radiofluoroscopy or CT guidance. Fractured vertebral bodies were injected by Methylmethacrylate bone cement Palacos R. Results. All patients declared important improvement, no complications were observed. Conclusions. Transpedicular vertebroplasty is is effective in treatment of vertebral osteoporotic compression fractures. Minimally invasive procedure requiring local anaesthesia is well-tolerated by patients. Cement injection protects the vertebral body against further compression.