Our percutaneous vertebroplasty applications in vertebral compression fratures

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness and complications of the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) applications in vertebral compression fractures.
Methods: Our study was carried out as a retrospective study in which PVP conducted on patients with vertebral compression fractures due to benign or malign reasons between October 2006 and December 2009. The patients’ pains were evaluated on the visual analog scale (VAS). In addition, the amounts of cement injected, whether any leakage out of the vertebrae corpus were seen or not, as well as any complications resulting from the application during or after the operation were recorded. The age and gender of the patients, the duration of pain, number and location of fractured vertebrae, and the length of follow-up time were also collected for evaluation.
Results: A total of 15 patients were included in the assessment. Of the patients, 13 were women, while the mean age was 69.5±8.5 years. A total of 19 PVP were applied out on the 15 patients. While initial VAS scores were 7.9±1.6, at the end of an average 10.3±3.8 (range: 4-18) months of follow up, they had fallen to 2.6±2.7. 80% of the patients reported at least a 50% reduction in pain scores compared to initial pain scores, and 86.7% of them reported at least a 2 points decrease in VAS scores. In three patients, a leakage of cement into the intervertebral disc occurred.
Conclusion: Percutaneous vertebroplasty in symptomatic vertebral compression fractures not responding to medical treatment may successfully be used at low rate of complications.