Vertebral Body Lavage Reduces Hemodynamic Response to Vertebral Body Augmentation With PMMA

Hydraulic Polymethylmethacrylate Pressure Delivery System Versus Manual Balloon Tamp System in Balloon Kyphoplasty

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are prevalent among the elderly population, and Balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) is a minimally invasive solution for these. However, Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) leakage is a significant complication with potentially severe consequences. This study compares the safety and efficacy of manual balloon tamp system (MTS) and hydraulic Polymethylmethacrylate pressure delivery system (HPDS) in BKP.

METHODS

A retrospective study involving 160 patients, comparing MTS (2008-2014) and HPDS (2016-2020) cohorts, assessed PMMA leakage, radiation exposure, and surgery duration.

RESULTS

PMMA leakage occurred in 52.8% of MTS and 62.5% of HPDS cases. Intradiscal leakage was the most common pattern in both groups. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that multilevel BKP and HPDS were associated with higher PMMA leakage rates. Radiation exposure was significantly lower with HPDS, while surgery duration was shorter.

DISCUSSION

This study provides novel insights into PMMA leakage and radiation exposure in BKP. HPDS was associated with a higher PMMA leakage rate. HPDS, however, offers advantages in terms of reduced radiation exposure and shorter surgery duration. Multilevel BKP also increased the risk of leakage. Further investigation is needed to better understand the impact of HPDS on PMMA leakage.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores that while HPDS offers advantages regarding radiation exposure and surgery duration, it is associated with a higher PMMA leakage rate.

Long-term follow-up after vertebroplasty - A mean 10-years follow-up control study

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical 10 year outcome of patients treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures and to determine the incidence of new fractures in this time interval, as well as the mortality of the patients who underwent this procedure.

Methods

All patients undergoing vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures between May 2007 until July 2008 were prospectively followed up at 10 years postoperatively. Patients were assessed for radiologic outcome and self-reported outcome parameters (PROs). Gathered parameters remained unmodified to the initial ones analyzing QoL improvement (EQ5D 3L and NASS score) and pain alleviation (VAS, NRS). Mortality was defined as an additional endpoint. Exclusion criteria include additional instrumentation, use of additional devices such as kyphoplasty balloons/stentoplasty, cognitive impairment, insufficient radiological documentation or absent re-consent.

Results

Of 280 patients who underwent vertebroplasty, 49 (17.5%) were available for re-assessment with a mean follow-up of 10.5 years (9.9-11.1). Thirty patients (10.7%) were assessed clinically and radiologically, 16 (5.7%) in written form and three (1.1%) by phone only. A total of 186 (66.4%) died during the follow up period. Out of the remaining 45 patients, 27 patients declined participation, eight couldn't participate due to cognitive impairment, four had insufficient radiologic documentation. Six patients were lost to follow-up. At 10 years, patients reported a consistently improved quality of life (EQ-5D; p < 0.01) and global satisfaction. Vertebroplasty demonstrated a substantial and enduring effect on alleviating back pain over 10 years (p < 0.001). 26 (53%) patients experienced a new fracture since the initial procedure.

Conclusion

A decade following vertebroplasty, patients continue to demonstrate a quality of life and pain level comparable to short and medium-term assessments, with a significant difference from baseline measurements. More than half (53%) of the patients participating at last follow-up experienced new fractures during this interim period. The cohort as a whole has been impacted by an elevated mortality rate over the time period.

Impact of Aspiration Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Reducing Bone Cement Leakage and Enhancing Distribution-An Ex Vivo Study in Goat Vertebrae

Osteoporosis-induced vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) occurs commonly in people over the age of 50, especially among menopausal women. Besides conservative therapy, minimally invasive percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and kyphoplasty (PKP) have been widely used in clinical treatment and achieved good efficacy. However, the leakage of bone cement (CL) during vertebroplasty (PV) is a major risk that can cause (serious) complications such as compression of the spinal cord, pulmonary embolism, or even paraplegia. In this study, we introduced a new aspiration technique with standard PV procedures (APV) to ameliorate the risk of leakage with quantitative verifications of its effectiveness. APV intends to create a differential pressure to guide the direction of cement flow within the vertebrae. To test this technique, Nubian goats' ex vivo vertebral bodies (VBs) were used to simulate the PV surgical process in humans. Results show that the proposed APV has a lower leakage rate of 13% compared to the 53% of conventional PV. Additionally, the APV approach achieves more uniform cement distribution via the 9-score method with a value of 7 ± 1.30 in contrast to 4 ± 1.78 by conventional PV.

Clinical Outcomes of Fracture Haemorrhage Aspiration for Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Treating Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Background

A retrospective study aimed to introduce a new method for improving the diffusion degree of bone cement and to observe its clinical efficacy in percutaneous vertebroplasty treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

Methods

From January 2019 to March 2020, a total of 83 patients were enrolled and reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the operation method. The clinical and radiographic parameters were recorded and compared between these two groups. Those who received percutaneous vertebroplasty with haemorrhage aspiration were recorded as group A (n=42). In group A, the haemorrhage in the vertebral fracture was aspirated compared with conventional percutaneous vertebroplasty. Patients who underwent conventional percutaneous vertebroplasty were classified as group B (n=41).

Results

Visual analogue scale (VAS) values and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores showed no significant difference between the two groups preoperatively, postoperatively or at the final follow-up (FU) (P>0.05). The intraoperative VAS score (bone cement injection) in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (3.83±0.79 vs 5.44±1.32, P < 0.01). The local kyphotic angle (LKA) (final follow-up), LKA loss, fractured vertebral anterior height loss (FVAHL) and anterior vertebral height loss ratio (AVHLR) were significantly lower in group A than in group B. The anterior vertebral height ratio (AVHR) at the final FU in group A was higher than that in group B (P=0.013). The distribution of bone cement was significantly different (P=0.034). By analysing the distribution pattern of bone cement, it was found that the values of LKA loss, FVAHL and AVHLR were superior in the type A bone cement distribution to those in types B and C.

Conclusion

Compared with traditional surgical methods, bone haemorrhage aspiration could improve the diffusion degree of bone cement and reduce the height loss and deformity of injured vertebrae. This method provides a feasible new scheme for improving the dispersion of bone cement.

Effect of unilateral pulsed jet lavage prior to vertebroplasty on the intravertebral pressure and cement distribution

Background

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is the most common treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. However, the morbidity of vertebroplasty-related complications, such as cement leakage, remains high. We tested a new technique of unilateral pulsed jet lavage and investigated its effect on the intravertebral pressure and bone cement distribution.

Methods

Thirty lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5) from six cadaver spines were randomly allocated into two groups (with and without irrigation). Prior to vertebroplasty, pulsed jet lavage was performed through one side of the pedicle by using a novel cannula with two concentric conduits to remove the fat and bone marrow of the vertebral bodies in the group with irrigation. The control group was not irrigated. Then, standardized vertebroplasty was performed in the vertebral bodies in both groups. Changes in the intravertebral pressure during injection were recorded. Computed tomography (CT) was performed to observe the cement distribution and extravasations, and the cement mass volume (CMV) was calculated.

Results

During cement injection, the average maximum intravertebral pressure of the unirrigated group was higher than that of the irrigated group (4.92 kPa versus 2.22 kPa, P < 0.05). CT scans showed a more homogeneous cement distribution with less CMV (3832 mm³ vs. 4344 mm³, P < 0.05) and less leakage rate (6.7% vs. 46.7%, P < 0.05) in the irrigated group than in the control group.

Conclusions

Unilateral pulsed jet lavage can reduce intravertebral pressure and lower the incidence of cement leakage during vertebroplasty. An enhanced bone cement distribution can also be achieved through this lavage system.