Percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty with PMMA: operative technique and early results. A prospective study for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures.

Vertebroplasty-percutaneous cement augmentation of osteoporotic vertebrae is an efficient procedure for the treatment of painful vertebral fractures. From a prospectively monitored series of 70 patients with 193 augmented vertebrae for osteoporotic and metastatic lesions, we analysed a group of 17 patients suffering from back pain due to osteoporotic fractures. The reinforcement of 45 vertebral bodies in these patients led to a significant and lasting pain reduction (P < 0.01 ). The presented technique is useful, as, in one session, at least four injections can be performed when required, allowing the prophylactic reinforcement of adjacent vertebrae as well. The use of a low-viscosity polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in combination with a non-ionic liquid contrast dye provides a reliable and safe procedure. Extraosseous cement leakage was seen in 20% of the interventions; however, none of them had clinical sequelae.