Efficacy of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in the Treatment of Malignant and Benign Vertebral Fractures: Single-Center Experiences

Abstract

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a method used for vertebral stabilization and pain treatment. This study was performed to demonstrate the efficacy of PVP in treatment of malignant and benign vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). The study was conducted on 45 cases with a total of 106 VCFs. The mean age of the patients was 62.4 years (37–86 years). The vertebral fractures were classified according to Genant’s Classification. Pain was rated using the visual analog scale (VAS). VAS scores were recorded before and after PVP operations. A total of 58 vertebrae (54.8%) were treated via a bipedicular approach, and 48 vertebrae (45.2%) were treated via a unilateral transpedicular approach with the help of biplane imaging and under anesthesia. L1 vertebra (19.8%) fractures and Grade III fractures (46.3%) were more common. Vertebral collapse was the most common cause of malignancy (53.8%). The mean VAS score was measured to be 8.39 before the VP operations and 2.05 after the VP operations. The VAS score dropped to 2.3 through the unipedicular approach and to 1.84 through the bipedicular approach. The decrease in pain due to VP was statistically significant (p 0.05). Some patients (18.8%) had complications. PVP is a highly therapeutic method for pain relief in case of pain secondary to malignant or benign vertebral fractures.

Keywords

• vertebroplasty
• vertebral fracture
• pain treatment