The role of routine transpedicular biopsies during kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures in the detection of malignant diseases: a systematic review

Age was a protective factor for unexpected malignant diagnoses in patients with vertebral compression fracture

OBJECTIVE

The purpose was to investigate the risk factors for unexpected malignant diagnoses in patients with vertebral compression fractures (VCF).

METHODS

The clinical data were retrospectively collected from 1396 patients who underwent vertebral augmentation and biopsy between 2012 and 2022. According to the imaging results, the preoperative diagnoses were benign VCF (BVCF) in all these cases. Based on the histological findings, the patients were divided into two groups. In group A, unexpected malignant VCF (MVCF) was identified, while benign VCF (BVCF) was verified in group B. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk and protective factors for unexpected malignant diagnoses.

RESULTS

There were 44 patients in group A and 1352 in group B. The incidence of unexpected MVCF was 3.2 %. Age was significantly lower in group A compared to group B. Additionally, none of the patients in group A were older than 75. Age was associated with unexpected malignant diagnoses, according to the univariate logistic analysis. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that age was a protective factor for unexpected malignant diagnoses (odds ratio = 0.849, 95 % confidence interval: 0.809-0.891, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Age was a protective factor for unexpected malignant diagnoses in patients with preoperative diagnosis of BVCF. A routine biopsy is recommended to be performed during vertebral augmentation in young patients without preoperative imaging evidence of MVCF.

[Value of routine transpedicular biopsies in kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures : A survey among 250 spine surgeons]

BACKGROUND

Transpedicular cement augmentation is an established therapeutic option in the treatment of pathologic compression fractures of the spine. In addition to osteoporosis, underlying metastatic diseases or, more rarely, a primary bone tumor are recurrent causes of vertebral compression fractures without adequate trauma.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a current opinion among spine surgeons in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria on the value of transpedicular biopsy during kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty of vertebral body fractures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A web-based (UmfrageOnline®) questionnaire with 11 questions was created and sent to the email distribution lists of the German Spine Society (DWG), the Austrian Society for Spine Surgery (spine.at), and the Swiss Society for Spinal Surgery (SGS), as well as to the email distribution list of the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU).

RESULTS

Of a total of 2675 spine surgeons contacted 250 (9.3%) responded to the survey. Approximately one third (29.8%) of respondents regularly perform a transpedicular biopsy with each kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. Reasons cited for biopsy were image morphology (79.7%) or history of suspected (66.0%) or present (71.4%) tumor disease. Reasons cited against routine biopsy were the associated costs and the limited informative value of the biopsies obtained.

DISCUSSION

Nearly one third of the spine surgeons surveyed regularly perform a transpedicular biopsy with each kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. Almost all respondents perform biopsies at least when there is an imaging morphologic suspicion of tumor disease or tumor disease is known or suspected based on risk factors. Future studies need to further clarify the cost-effectiveness of transpedicular biopsy.

Geriatric spine fractures - Demography, changing trends, challenges and special considerations: A narrative review

The aim of this manuscript was to summarize the demography and changing trends of geriatric spinal injuries and to enumerate the challenges and special considerations in the care of geriatric spinal injuries. PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases were searched for literature on geriatric spine fractures using MeSH terms 'aged', 'aged, 80 and over', 'elderly', 'spinal fracture/epidemiology', spinal fracture/therapy∗' and keywords pertaining to the same. The search results were screened for appropriate articles and reviewed. There is a high community prevalence of elderly vertebral fractures ranging from 18% to as high as 51%. The proportion of older patients among the spinal injured is rising as well. There is a higher chance of missing spinal injuries in the elderly and clinical guidelines may not be applicable to this patient group. Classification and surgical treatment are different from younger adult counterparts as the elderly osteoporotic spine behaves differently biomechanically. There is a high incidence of respiratory complications both for surgically and conservatively managed groups. Older age generally is associated with a higher complication rate including mortality.

Evaluation of biopsy results during vertebral augmentation in patients with a known history of malignancy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate biopsy results during vertebral augmentation in vertebral compression fracture (VCF) patients with a known history of malignancy.

METHODS

An analysis of vertebral augmentation between 2012 and 2021 was performed retrospectively. Each level of VCF was biopsied, and all biopsies were sent for histopathological analyses. Imaging evaluation was performed in collaboration with an oncologist, a spine surgeon, and a radiologist. Patients were divided into two groups based on the preoperative imaging findings. Malignant VCF (MVCF) was presumed in group A, while osteoporotic VCF (OVCF) was presumed in group B.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-six VCF patients with a known history of malignancy were included. Group A included 91 patients with preoperative imaging findings suspicious for MVCF. And 73 patients were finally diagnosed as MVCF, with biopsy results confirming imaging findings. The incidence of MVCF was 46.8%. Group B included 65 patients with imaging evidence of OVCF. And all biopsy results were negative for malignancy. The sensitivity of imaging evaluation for finding MVCF was 100%, and the specificity was 78.3%.

CONCLUSION

A combination of X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sufficient to distinguish MVCF from OVCF. Biopsy is not required to confirm the diagnosis during vertebral augmentation, if the imaging findings do not indicate MVCF in patients with a known history of malignancy. It is recommended to perform a biopsy in patients with preoperative imaging findings suspicious for MVCF.

KEY POINTS

• A combination of X-ray, CT, and MRI is sufficient to distinguish MVCF from OVCF. • Biopsy is not required in patients without imaging signs of MVCF. • Biopsy is recommended in patients with imaging findings suspicious for MVCF.