Treatment of osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures by percutaneous vertebroplasty

Objective: To explore the effect of pe rc utaneous vertebroplasty to treat osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractur es. Methods: Seventeen patients with compression fractures at 27 different levels came in for percutaneous vertebroplasty. Under the guidance of C-arm image intensifier, bone needle was inserted into the fracture vertebral bodies via a unilateral transpedicular approach. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) w as injected slowly under continuous fluoroscopic control. Then the effect was ev aluated after operation. Results: Follow-up results among 15 pa tients were studied, other two patients lost contact. The follow-up period was from three to seven months. No patient had relapse of compression fracture. Leak age of the cement outside the vertebral body was seen in four bodies. All patien ts had a complete relief after Percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP). Conclus ion: PVP is an efficient minimally invasive technique to treat osteoporo tic vertebral body compression fractures.