Inhalation study of polymethyl methacrylate following radiologist exposure during percutaneous vertebroplasty

Percutaneous vertebroplasty in tumoral spinal fractures with posterior vertebral wall involvement: Feasibility and safety

PURPOSE

to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of CT and fluoroscopy guided percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of tumoral vertebral fractures with posterior wall involvement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained for this study. Sixty-three consecutive adult patients (35 women, 28 men; mean age+/- standard deviation: 69 years+/- 14) with tumoral spinal fractures that compromised the posterior wall were treated by means of percutaneous vertebroplasty with CT and fluoroscopy guidance. Only local anesthesia was used during these procedures. Postoperative outcome was assessed using the Kostuik index.

RESULTS

Sixty-three vertebroplasties were performed on thirty-four thoracic (54%), twenty-six lumbar (41%), and three (5%) cervical vertebrae. The etiologies of the fractures were metastasis in twenty-eight (44%), myeloma in twenty-five (40%) and hemangioma in ten (16%). Almost all fractures (94%) were consolidated after vertebroplasty (score of Kostuik <3) (p < 0.001). No major complications were reported in our series of cases.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that tumoral spinal fractures with posterior vertebral wall involvement can be successfully and safely treated by CT- and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Vertebroplasty in Patients with Tumour-Related Vertebral Fractures: Is Rehabilitation Needed?

For about 20 years, vertebroplasty has been used to achieve relief from pain and improve function in eligible patients affected by vertebral fractures. The procedure is also performed in patients with tumours of the vertebral body. The aim of this study was to investigate, by means of a literature review, correlations between vertebroplasty and the need for rehabilitation after patients with tumour-related vertebral fractures were operated on. This review was based on literature from the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (PubMed), using the following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms: "vertebroplasty," "surgical procedures minimally invasive," "bone neoplasm," "spine," "postoperative care," "rehabilitation," and "exercise." In total, 14 citations were retrieved: potentially relevant studies were identified by searching titles and abstracts, and then the full text of the selected articles was reviewed. From this review, the postoperative course of vertebroplasty today does not strictly indicate the need for rehabilitation.