Percutaneous vertebroplasty in osteoporosis, myeloma and Langerhans' cell histiocytosis

This review aims to assess the effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty as a treatment for the severe refractory pain associated with vertebral fracture, in a group of patients with fractures secondary to either osteoporotic or neoplastic disease. A retrospective review of 20 patients treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty in Cork University Hospital up until March 2007 was carried out and a questionnaire was prepared and distributed. Prior to vertebroplasty, patients had been symptomatic with severe pain for a mean of 20.9 weeks. Of those thirteen whom replied to a postal questionnaire, 12 (92.3%) reported pain relief and this improvement occurred within 7 days in 9 (81.8%). This was associated with decreased analgesic requirements, as determined on chart review. Prior to the procedure only 5 (38.4%) were independently mobile and this figure rose to 10 (76.9%) afterwards, occurring within one week in the majority. Subjective outcomes were better in the group of patients with neoplasm-induced fractures.