Percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of burst fractures. Case report.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a useful procedure for patients with vertebral osteoporotic compression fractures; however, there has been no mention in the literature of the use of percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of traumatic spinal fractures. The authors report the case of a 33-year-old man who harbored L-1, L-2, and L-5 burst fractures sustained in a work-related accident. The patient was successfully treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty with polymethylmethacrylate. The authors propose this procedure as a useful intervention in selected patients with lumbar burst fractures. The complications associated with major surgical procedures are absent.