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Updated: Sep 28, 2025
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Published on: August 9, 2024
A retrospective study of the use of percutaneous vesselplasty for pathological vertebral compression fractures
Zhijin Chen1, Lin Liu1, Ziyin Wang2
1Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
Insights
Percutaneous vesselplasty effectively treats pathological vertebral compression fractures (VCFs), significantly reducing pain and disability. This minimally invasive procedure demonstrated a 100% success rate with no complications in a recent study.
Area of Science:
- Interventional Radiology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Pathological vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) cause significant pain and disability.
- Current treatment options for pathological VCFs may have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous vesselplasty for treating pathological VCFs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of nine patients with pathological VCFs treated with vesselplasty.
- Assessment of pain scores (Visual Analog Scale - VAS) and functional status (Oswestry Disability Index - ODI).
- Evaluation of imaging guidance techniques and procedure-related complications.
Main Results:
- 100% procedural success rate observed.
- Significant reduction in average VAS scores from 7.78 to 2.67 (P < 0.001).
- Significant reduction in average ODI scores from 75.45 to 32.45 (P < 0.001), with no symptomatic cement leakage or complications.
Conclusions:
- Percutaneous vesselplasty is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for pathological VCFs.
- The procedure offers significant improvements in pain, mobility, and function.
- Vesselplasty presents a viable alternative treatment option for pathological VCFs with a low complication rate.
Objective And Aims:
To assess percutaneous vesselplasty's safety and efficacy in treating pathological vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).
Subjects And Methods:
This retrospective review covered nine patients with an equal number of symptomatic pathological VCFs treated with vesselplasty. The study assessed the patients' pain scores, subjective conditions, imaging guidance, and incidence of procedure-related complications.
Results:
The VCFs were at the T4 and L5 spine regions. The procedure success rate was 100%. In 88.89% (8/9) of the examined cases, there was a posterior vertebral body or pedicle involvement or both. Two patients with high thoracic VCFs underwent combined computed tomography and mobile C-arm fluoroscopy guidance. The other patients underwent digital subtraction angiography guidance. The average visual analog scale (VAS) score and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before the treatment were 7.78 ± 0.67 standard deviation (SD) and 75.45 ± 7.55, respectively. The average VAS score and ODI 3 months after the treatment were 2.67 ± 0.50 (SD) and 32.45 ± 6.19 (P < 0.001), respectively. There were no recorded cases of symptomatic cement leakage or other operation-associated complications.
Conclusions:
Percutaneous vesselplasty appears to be a safe and effective minimally invasive local treatment for pathological VCFs. This approach may offer benefits in improving pain, mobility, and function and minimizing the bone cement leakage rate while providing a safe and effective alternative treatment for pathological VCFs.
