Percutaneous vertebroplasty in vertebra plana secondary to metastasis

Severe vertebral body collapse secondary to metastatic disease is considered a contraindication to vertebroplasty by most authors. Resolution of radicular pain after vertebroplasty is also not well reported. A case of successful vertebroplasty of a severe T7 collapse secondary to metastatic thymic carcinoma with an associated posterior cortical fracture of the body that resulted in resolution of axial and radicular pain is described. The patient had near-complete relief of severe axial and radicular pain. Postoperative imaging revealed anterior placement of the cement without leak into the spinal canal or the intervertebral foramen. The objectives are to describe the clinical and radiographic features of the case to support the idea that vertebra plana secondary to metastatic disease may not be a contraindication to vertebroplasty in selected patients. Simple techniques to avoid leak of cement into the spinal canal are also described. Severe vertebral collapse secondary to metastatic fractures may not be a contraindication to vertebroplasty, provided that appropriate measures are taken to place the trocars and to avoid extrusion of cement into the spinal canal.