Neurologia medico-chirurgica
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Neurol. Med. Chir. (Tokyo) · Nov 2009
Percutaneous vertebroplasty using hydroxyapatite blocks for the treatment of vertebral body fracture.
Vertebroplasty with hydroxyapatite blocks through a modified percutaneous approach was used to treat 30 patients with vertebral body fractures in 32 vertebral bodies between February 2003 and March 2007. The mean follow-up period was 16.6 months. The pain associated with this procedure, effects on adjacent vertebral bodies, and other complications were evaluated. ⋯ New vertebral body fractures occurred postoperatively in 3 vertebral bodies in 2 patients. Leakage of blocks outside the vertebral body occurred in 2 patients during the operation, and after the operation in one patient, and the hydroxyapatite plug broke postoperatively in one patient. Hydroxyapatite blocks yielded good pain relief comparable to bone cement, with no serious complications such as a pulmonary embolism or leakage into the spinal canal, and are effective for percutaneous vertebroplasty.