Risk factors of neurological deficit and pulmonary cement embolism after percutaneous vertebroplasty

Abstract

Abstract Background The risk factors, incidence, and clinical management of pulmonary cement embolism and neurological deficit during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) were evaluated. Methods Three thousand one hundred and seventy-five patients with symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) treated with PVP were retrospectively reviewed in a single institution. Clinical parameters such as age, gender, number of fractures, and time from fracture to vertebroplasty were recorded at the time of surgery. Image and surgical parameters including the amount of cement, the vertebral level, uni- or bipedicle surgical approach, and leakage pattern were recorded. Results Type-C leakage, including paraspinal (25%), intradiscal (26%), and posterior (0.7%) leakage, was more common than type-B (11.4%) and type-S leaks (4.9%). Cement leakage into the spinal canal (type-C posterior) occurred in 26 patients (0.7%), and four patients needed surgical decompression. Three in nine patients with leakage into thoracic spine needed decompressive surgery, but only one of 17 patients into lumbar spine needed surgery (p 7.0 cc: 0.9%; p < 0.01) which needed postoperative oxygen support. Conclusions Cement leakage is relatively common but mostly of no clinical significance. Percutaneous vertebroplasty in thoracic spine and high amount of PMMA injected should be treated with caution in clinical practice.

Keywords

• Bone cements
• Iatrogenic disease
• Adverse effects
• Paresis
• Pulmonary embolism