• Qingshuai Yu, Lei Shi, Zhou Xu, Youliang Ren, Junsong Yang, Yingjie Zhou, Zhongliang Deng, and Lei Chu.
• Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Congqing Medical University, Chongqing, P.R. China.
• Pain Physician. 2020 Jul 1; 23 (4): E377-E388.

BackgroundIntraspinal cement leakage is a catastrophic complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). Percutaneous endoscopic spinal surgery (PESS) for intraspinal cement leakage has rarely been reported.ObjectivesTo evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of PESS for intraspinal cement leakage following PVP.Study DesignThis was a retrospective study approved by the ethics committee of our institution.SettingDepartment of Orthopedics from an affiliated hospital.MethodsTwelve patients with neurologic impairments resulting from intraspinal cement leakage after PVP were treated with PESS for spinal decompression from May 2014 to June 2018. Computed tomography and 3-dimensional reconstruction were used to confirm the vertebral level of cement leakage. The surgical index, neurologic function, and clinical results were recorded in this study.ResultsThe leaked cement of all patients was successfully removed under PESS, and no severe intraoperative complications were reported in our study. The operation time ranged from 43 to 119 minutes (mean, 65.5 minutes). The amount of intraoperative blood loss was 64.25 ± 9.62 mL. The lengths of postoperative hospital stays were 5.25 ± 2.53 days. The follow-up rate was 83.3% (10/12). The follow-up time ranged from 14 to 30 months (mean, 22 months). The Visual Analog Scale scores of foraminal leaks improved from 6.50 ± 0.93 preoperatively to 1.75 ± 0.71 at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). Neurologic function was evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association 29 scores, which improved from 18.75 ± 1.06 to 22.70 ± 1.64 (P < 0.0001). The good and excellent rates were 80% according to the modified Macnab criteria.LimitationsThis study is limited by the volume of patients and the deep learning curve needed for PESS.ConclusionsPESS, as a minimally invasive technique, can achieve targeted spinal cord decompression and may be a safe and effective alternative approach to conventional procedures for cement leakage after PVP.Key WordsEndoscopes, cement leakage, minimally invasive surgery, percutaneous vertebroplasty.

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