Percutaneous vertebroplasty: technique and results in 192 procedures

Percutaneous vertebroplasty with acrylic cement (usually polymethylmethacrylate) consists of injecting cement into vertebral bodies weakened by osseous lesions. The objective of this procedure is to obtain an analgesic effect by mechanical stabilization in destructive lesions of the spine. The three major indications are aggressive vertebral hemangiomas, severe or refractory pain related to osteoporotic vertebral fractures, and malignant vertebral tumors. Complications are infrequent, but occur essentially in patients with vertebral malignant tumors. We present our experience with 148 patients that underwent 192 percutaneous PMMA vertebroplasties for the treatment of painful osteoporotic compression fractures (76 patients, 105 vertebral levels), hemangiomas (31 patients, 43 vertebral levels) and neoplasms (31 patients, 43 vertebral levels). In a vast majority of appropriately selected cases and especially in osteoporotic cases, vertebroplasty constitutes a relatively simple procedure with a very high rate of success.