scholarly journals Minding the Gap in Vertebroplasty: Vertebral Body Fracture Clefts and Cement Nonunion

2021 ◽  
pp. E221-E230

BACKGROUND: Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are leading treatments for patients with vertebral body compression fractures. Although cement augmentation has been shown to help relieve pain and instability from fractures containing a cleft, there is some controversy in the literature regarding the procedure’s efficacy in these cases. Additionally, some of the literature blurs the distinction between clefts and cement patterns (including cement nonunion and cement fill pattern). Both clefts and cement patterns have been mentioned in the literature as risks for poorer outcomes following cement augmentation, which can result in complications such as cement migration. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the prevalence of fracture clefts and cement nonunion, the relationship between them as well as to cement fill pattern, and their association with demographics and other variables related to technique and outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Interventional radiology department at a single site university hospital. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study assessed 295 vertebroplasties/kyphoplasties performed at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2018. Vertebral fracture cleft and cement nonunion were the main variables of interest. Presence and characterization of a fracture cleft was determined on pre-procedural imaging, defined as an air or fluid filled cavity within the fractured vertebral body on magnetic resonance or computed tomography. Cement nonunion was evaluated on post-procedural imaging, defined as air or fluid surrounding the cement bolus on magnetic resonance or computed tomography or imaging evidence of cement migration. Cement fill pattern was assessed on procedural and/or post-procedural imaging. Pain improvement scores were based on a visual analog score immediately prior to the procedure and during clinical visits in the short-term follow-up period. Additional patient demographics, medical history, and procedure details were obtained from electronic medical chart review. RESULTS: Pre-procedural vertebral fracture clefts were demonstrated in 29.8% of our cases. Increasing age, secondary osteoporosis, and thoracolumbar junction location were associated with increased odds of clefts. There was no significant difference in pain improvement outcomes in patients following cement augmentation between clefted and non-clefted compression fractures. Clefts, especially large clefts, and cleft-only fill pattern were associated with increased odds of cement nonunion. Procedure techniques (vertebroplasty, curette, and balloon kyphoplasty) demonstrated similar proportion of cement nonunion and distribution of cement fill pattern. LIMITATIONS: Cement nonunion was observed in only 6.8% of cases. Due to this low proportion, statistical inference tends to have low power. Multiple levels were treated in nearly half of the study’s patients undergoing a single vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty session; in these cases, each level was treated as independent rather than spatially correlated within the same study patient. CONCLUSIONS: Vertebral body fracture clefts are not uncommon and are related to (but distinct from) cement nonunion and cement fill patterns. Our study shows that, although patients with clefts will benefit from cement augmentation just as much as patients without a cleft, the performing provider should take note of cement fill and take extra steps to ensure optimal cement fill. These providers should also identify cement nonunion and associated complications (such as cement migration) on follow-up imaging. KEY WORDS: Kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, compression fracture, cement nonunion, vertebral fracture cleft, spine, cement augmentation

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. E9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Gerszten ◽  
Edward A. Monaco

Object Patients with symptomatic pathological compression fractures require spinal stabilization surgery for mechanical back pain control and radiation therapy for the underlying malignant process. Spinal radiosurgery provides excellent long-term radiographic control for vertebral metastases. Percutaneous cement augmentation using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) may be contraindicated in lesions with spinal canal compromise due to the risk of displacement of tumor resulting in spinal cord or cauda equina injury. However, there is also significant morbidity associated with open corpectomy procedures in patients with metastatic cancer, especially in those who subsequently require adjuvant radiotherapy. This study evaluated a treatment paradigm for malignant vertebral compression fractures consisting of transpedicular coblation corpectomy combined with closed fracture reduction and fixation, followed by spinal radiosurgery. Methods Eleven patients (6 men and 5 women, mean age 58 years) with symptomatic vertebral body metastatic tumors associated with moderate spinal canal compromise were included in this study (8 thoracic levels, 3 lumbar levels). Primary histologies included 4 lung, 2 breast, 2 renal, and 1 each of thyroid, bladder, and hepatocellular carcinomas. All patients underwent percutaneous transpedicular coblation corpectomy immediately followed by balloon kyphoplasty through the same 8-gauge cannula under fluoroscopic guidance. Patients subsequently underwent radiosurgery to the affected vertebral body (mean time to treatment 14 days). Postoperatively, patients were assessed for pain reduction and neurological morbidity. Results There were no complications associated with any part of the procedure. Adequate cement augmentation within the vertebral body was achieved in all cases. The mean radiosurgical tumor dose was 19 Gy covering the entire vertebral body. The procedure provided long-term pain improvement and radiographic tumor control in all patients (follow-up range 7–44 months). No patient later required open surgery. No radiation-induced toxicity or new neurological deficit occurred during the follow-up period. Conclusions This treatment paradigm for pathological fractures of percutaneous transpedicular corpectomy combined with cement augmentation followed by radiosurgery was found to be safe and clinically effective. This technique combines minimally invasive procedures that avoid the morbidity associated with open surgery while providing spinal canal decompression and immediate fracture stabilization, and then administering a single-fraction tumoricidal radiation dose.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Μιχαήλ Τζερμιαδιανός

Η κύφωση από ένα οστεοπορωτικό σπονδυλικό κάταγμα θεωρείται παράγοντας κίνδυνου για νέα κατάγματα, ιδιαίτερα στους παρακείμενους σπονδύλους. Όμως, ο ρόλος της παραμόρφωσης της τελικής πλάκας δεν έχει εκτιμηθεί. Η παρούσα μελέτη ελέγχει την υπόθεση ότι η αλλαγή στις μηχανικές ιδιότητες του μεσοσπονδύλιου δίσκου μετά από κάταγμα της τελικής του πλάκας, ακόμη και επί απουσίας κύφωσης, αλλάζει την μεταφορά φορτίων και προδιαθέτει σε παρακείμενα σπονδυλικά κάταγμα. Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν οκτώ ανθρώπινα θωρακοσφυϊκά παρασκευάσματα, αποτελούμενα από πέντε σπονδύλους. Για την επιλεκτική θραύση της μίας τελικής πλάκας του μεσαίου σπονδύλου δημιουργήθηκε κενό στο σπογγώδες οστό κάτω από την τυχαία επιλεγμένη πλάκα και το παρασκεύασμα συμπιέστηκε σε θέση κάμψης. Στη συνέχεια εφαρμόστηκε ροπή έκτασης υπό συμπιεστικό φορτίο 150 Ν, η οποία αποκατέστησε το ύψους του πρόσθιου τοιχώματος και την κυφωτική παραμόρφωση του σπονδυλικού σώματος, ενώ η τελική πλάκα παρέμεινε σημαντικά παραμορφωμένη. Το σπονδυλικό σώμα πληρώθηκε στην αναταγμένη θέση με πολυμεθακρυλικό τσιμέντο μετά τον προσεκτικό καθαρισμό του από τις οστικές δοκίδες ώστε να διασφαλιστεί η ομοιόμορφη κατανομή του τσιμέντου κάτω από τις τελικές πλάκες. Κάθε παρασκεύασμα ελέγχθηκε σε κάμψη και έκταση (ροπή ±6 Nm) υπό φορτίο 400 Ν, ενώ γινόταν καταγραφή της πίεση στους δίσκους άνω και κάτω του μεσαίου σπονδύλου και της τάσης (strain) στο πρόσθιο τοίχωμα των παρακείμενων σπονδύλων. Η πίεση των δίσκων στα άθικτα παρασκευάσματα αυξήθηκε κατά την κάμψη κατά 26 ± 14%. Μετά την ενίσχυση με τσιμέντο η πίεση των δίσκων κατά την κάμψη αυξήθηκε κατά 15 ± 11% στους δίσκους με άθικτη τελική πλάκα, ενώ μειώθηκε κατά 19,0 ± 26,8% στους δίσκους με παραμορφωμένη τελική πλάκα. Κατά την κάμψη, η συμπιεστική φόρτιση στο πρόσθιο τοίχωμα του σπονδύλου που βρισκόταν δίπλα από την παραμορφωμένη πλάκα αυξήθηκε κατά 94,2 ± 22,8% σε σχέση με τα άθικτα παρασκευάσματα (p<0,05), ενώ δεν άλλαξε σημαντικά στο σπόνδυλο δίπλα στην μη παραμορφωμένη πλάκα (18,2 ± 7,1%, p>0,05). Επακόλουθη κάμψη με συμπίεση προκάλεσε παρακείμενα κατάγματα δίπλα από την παραμορφωμένη πλάκα σε έξι παρασκευάσματα και μη παρακείμενο κάταγμα σε ένα, ενώ σε άλλο ένα παρασκεύασμα δεν παρατηρήθηκε νέο κάταγμα.Στους δίσκους με ακέραιες τελικές πλάκες η πίεση του πυρήνα αυξάνεται κατά την κάμψη αποτρέποντας την υπερβολική συγκέντρωση φορτίου στο πρόσθιο τοίχωμα. Ο αυξημένος χώρος που διατίθεται στον πυρήνα μετά από ένα οστεοπορωτικό κάταγμα επηρεάζει την ικανότητά του να κατανέμει το φορτίο και αναγκάζει τον ινώδη δακτύλιο να μεταφέρει περισσότερο φορτίο κατά την κάμψη, με αποτέλεσμα την υπέρμετρη καταπόνηση του πρόσθιου τμήματος του παρακείμενου σπονδύλου που προδιαθέτει σε κάταγμα ακόμη και μετά από διόρθωση της κύφωσης. Η παρούσα μελέτη υποδεικνύει ότι η διόρθωση της παραμόρφωσης της τελικής πλάκας μπορεί να έχει ρόλο στη μείωση του κινδύνου παρακείμενων καταγμάτων.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Naohisa Miyakoshi ◽  
Akira Horikawa ◽  
Yoichi Shimada

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures usually heal with kyphotic deformities with subsidence of the vertebral body when treated conservatively. Corrective vertebral union using only antiosteoporotic pharmacotherapy without surgical intervention has not been reported previously. An 81-year-old female with osteoporosis presented with symptomatic fresh L1 vertebral fracture with intravertebral cleft. Segmental vertebral kyphosis angle (VKA) at L1 was 20° at diagnosis. Once-weekly teriparatide administration, hospitalized rest, and application of a thoracolumbosacral orthosis alleviated symptoms within 2 months. Corrective union of the affected vertebra was obtained with these treatments. VKA at 2 months after injury was 8° (correction, 12°) and was maintained as of the latest follow-up at 7 months. Teriparatide has potent bone-forming effects and has thus been expected to enhance fracture healing. Based on the clinical experience of this case, teriparatide may have the potential to allow correction of unstable vertebral fractures without surgical intervention.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 810-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert F Heary ◽  
Arvin Kheterpal ◽  
Antonios Mammis ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar

Abstract BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of the thoracolumbar spine after corpectomy is a challenge for fractures, infections, and tumors. OBJECTIVE: To analyze fusion rates, clinical outcomes, and the percent of vertebral body coverage achieved by using stackable carbon fiber–reinforced polyetheretherketone cages in thoracolumbar corpectomies, and to measure the actual size of the cages and compare this measurement with the size of the vertebra(e) replaced by the cage. METHODS: A retrospective study of 40 patients who underwent thoracolumbar corpectomies was performed. Preoperative imaging included plain films, computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance imaging. Postoperatively, plain films and computed tomography scans were obtained, and the width of decompression and cross-sectional area of the cage were measured. The ratio of the area of the cage to the calculated area of the replaced vertebral body was used to determine the percent of vertebral body coverage. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 43 months. Successful fusion was observed in 39 patients. One patient experienced cage subsidence with kyphosis. One additional patient incurred a neurological complication that was corrected without long-term consequence. The mean correction of sagittal alignment was 10°, and the mean width of bony decompression was 20 mm. The mean ratio of the area of the carbon fiber cage to the area of the resected vertebral body was 60%. CONCLUSION: Stackable carbon fiber cages are effective devices for achieving thoracolumbar fusions. No failures of the cages occurred over long-term follow-up. Excellent clinical and radiographic results were achieved by covering a mean of 60% of the vertebral body with the cage.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Payo-Ollero ◽  
Rafael Llombart-Blanco ◽  
Carlos Villas ◽  
Matías Alfonso

Abstract Changes in vertebral body height depend on various factors which were analyzed in isolation and not as a whole. The aim of this study is to analyze what factors might influence restoration of vertebral body height after vertebral augmentation. We analyzed 48 patients (108 vertebrae) with osteoporotic vertebral fractures underwent vertebral augmentation when conservative treatment proved unsatisfactory. Analyses were carried out at the time of the fracture, during surgery (pre-cementation and post-cementation), at first medical check-up (6 weeks post-surgery) and at last medical check-up. Average vertebral height was measured and differences from preoperative values calculated at each timepoint. Pearson correlation coefficient and linear multivariable regression were carried out at the different timepoints. The time since vertebral fracture was 60.4 ± 41.7 days. Patients’ average age was 70.9 ± 9.3-years. The total follow-up was 1.43 ± 1-year. After vertebral cementation there was an increase in vertebral body height of + 0.3cm (13.6%). During post-operative follow-up, there was a progressive collapse of the vertebral body and pre-surgical height was reached. The factors that most influenced vertebral height restoration were: grade III collapse, intervertebral-vacuum-cleft (IVVC), and use of a flexible trocar before cement augmentation. The factor that negatively influenced vertebral body height restoration was location in the thoracolumbar spine.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-540
Author(s):  
A.G. Baindurashvili ◽  
◽  
A.V. Zaletina ◽  
S.V. Vissarionov ◽  
K.S. Solovyeva ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822098228
Author(s):  
Raphael Lotan ◽  
Yossi Smorgick ◽  
Yoram Anekstein ◽  
Oren Rudik ◽  
Ilia Prosso ◽  
...  

Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Objectives: We aimed to compare a large cohort of patients with vertebral compression fractures (VCF) treated in 2 centers using different protocols (conservative vs BKP) and compare mortality rates on a long-term follow-up. Methods: Retrospective cohort held in 2 medical centers (W and AH). All patients admitted with VCF from November 2008 to January 2015 were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were patients admitted with non-osteoporotic pathological fractures (such as metastatic or MM). Results: Our study included 208 patients treated for VCF, 127 were treated with BKP (88 females, 69.3%) and 81 were treated conservatively (59 females, 72.8%). Patients from Centre W were older and frailer compared to the patients from AH center (Average age 75.12 ± 11.16 vs 69.13 ± 9.61 years and Frailty score of 0.16 ± 0.1 vs 0.12 ± 0.1 respectively, T-test, p < 0.01 for both). Hazard ratios (HR) for age, female gender and frailty were significant for increased mortality, frailty had the highest HR of 182.42 (CI 29.05-1145.33, p < 0.01). Multivariate Cox model was fitted and after accounting for Gender, Age and Frailty, no significant difference was found between the 2 medical centers mortality rates (p = 0.59), thus no difference in mortality rates between BKP and conservative treatment in our study. Conclusion: long-term follow-up following BKP treatment for VCF did not show a reduced mortality rate compared to conservative treatment after accounting for frailty, age and gender. Frailty was the most important factor in predicting mortality. Further RCTs are needed to compare the quality of life differences between the 2 treatment strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3;23 (6;3) ◽  
pp. 315-323
Author(s):  
David Gimarc

Background: Vertebral cement augmentation is a commonly used procedure in patients with vertebral body compression fractures from primary or secondary osteoporosis, metastatic disease, or trauma. Many of these patients present with radiculopathy as a presenting symptom, and can experience symptomatic relief following the procedure. Objectives: To determine the incidence of preprocedural radiculopathy in patients with vertebral body compression fractures presenting for cement augmentation, and present their postoperative outcomes. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Interventional pain practice in a tertiary care university hospital. Methods: In this cohort study, all patients who underwent kyphoplasty (KP) or vertebroplasty (VP) procedures in a 7-year period within our practice were evaluated through a search of the electronic medical records. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the prevalence of noncompressive preprocedural radiculopathy in our patients. Evaluation of each patient’s relative improvement following the procedure, respective to the initial presence or absence of radicular symptoms (including and above T10, above and below T10, and below T10) was included as a secondary endpoint. Additional subanalysis was performed with respect to patients demographics, fracture location, and primary indication for the procedure (osteoporosis, trauma, etc.). Results: A total of 302 procedures were performed during this time period, encompassing 544 total vertebral body levels. After exclusion criteria were applied to this cohort, 31.6% of patients demonstrated radiculopathy prior to the procedure that could not be explained by nerve impingement. Nearly half of patients demonstrated an optimal clinical outcome (48.5% nearly complete/complete resolution of symptoms, 40.1% partial resolution of symptoms, 11.4% little to no resolution of symptoms). Patients with fractures above T10 were more likely to see complete resolution, whereas patients with fractures above and below T10 were likely to not see any resolution. Men and women without initial radiculopathy symptoms were more likely to see little to no resolution, regardless of fracture location. Limitations: This retrospective study used an electronic chart review of clinicians’ notes to determine the presence of radiculopathy and their relative improvement following the procedure. Conclusions: Preprocedural radiculopathy is a common symptom of patients presenting for the evaluation of VP or KP. The presence of radiculopathy in the absence of nerve impingement may be an important marker for those patients who may experience greater benefit from the procedure. Key words: Radiculopathy, kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, osteoporosis, compression fracture, spine, cement augmentation


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