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Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2008; 51(5): 280-284
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1082328
Original Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Minimally Invasive Vertebroplasty in the Treatment of Pain Induced by Spinal Metastatic Tumor

Y.-Y. Tseng 1 , S.-T. Yang 1 , P.-H. Tu 1 , T.-C. Yang 1 , Y.-L. Lo 1
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital & Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 October 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Spinal metastatic tumor is a common problem and represents a challenging problem in oncology practice. Patients with osteolytic metastases often suffer from intractable local and/or radicular pain. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive, radiologically guided procedure whereby bone cement is injected into structurally weakened vertebrae to provide immediate biomechanical stability. Vertebroplasty is also used to relieve pain by stabilizing metastatically compromised vertebrae that are at risk of pathological burst fracture. In this retrospective study, a total of 57 patients (78 vertebrae) with spinal metastatic tumor were treated with PMMA vertebroplasty. The mean value of the visual analogue scale (VAS) was 8.1±0.67 preoperatively, and significantly decreased to 3.8±1.9 (1–8, p<0.015) one day after vertebroplasty. The mean VAS value 6 months after vertebroplsty was 2.8±2.0 (p<0.001). Mean injected bone cement amount in our study is 5.16±1.6 mL. The complication rate is about 21.8%, bone cement extravasation without neurological deficit is the most common complication. No new or adjacent vertebral fracture has occurred in more than 2 years follow-up. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that offers a remarkable advantage of effective and immediate pain relief with few complications.

Key words

vertebroplasty - spinal metastatic tumor - minimal invasive - spinal stability - PMMA - pain

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Correspondence

Y.-L. LoMD 

Department of Neurosurgery

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

5 Fu-Shing Street 333

Kweishan

Taoyuan

Taiwan

ROC

Phone: +886/3/328 12 00 ext. 2119

Fax: +886/3/328 58 18

Email: britse17@gmail.com