Anterior Transpsoas Approach for Removal of Cement Leakage after Sacroplasty

Sacroplasty is a minimally invasive treatment option for severe pain due to sacral insufficiency fracture. Cement leakage is a known risk of sacroplasty. Despite the elevated risk to the L5 nerve root and lumbosacral trunk from cement leakage anterior to the sacral ala, there are no reports regarding surgical management of this complication.

We describe an anterior retroperitoneal transpsoas approach to the sacral ala to remove cement leakage causing acute L5 radiculopathy in a 57-year-old gentleman who had undergone sacroplasty for sacral insufficiency fracture (Denis zone 1). The approach provides rapid and excellent visualization of the sacral ala without manipulation of the iliac vessels.

We recommend that surgery be considered in a timely fashion, to utilize neuromonitoring, and that surgeons be aware of the considerable variability of the neurologic structures that will be encountered, which is described in this technical note.