Our percutaneous vertebroplasty applications in vertebral compression fractures

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and complications of the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) applications in vertebral compression fractures. Methods: Our study was carried out as a retrospective study in which PVP was conducted on patients with vertebral compression fractures due to benign or malignant causes between October 2006 and December 2009. The patients' pain was evaluated on a visual analog scale ( VAS). In addition, the amount of cement injected, whether or not any leakage from the vertebrae corpus was seen, and any complications resulting from the application during or after the operation were recorded. The age and gender of the patients, duration of pain, number and location of fractured vertebrae, and the duration of follow-up were also collected for evaluation. Results: A total of 15 patients were included in the assessment. Of the patients, 13 were female, and the mean age was 69.5 +/- 8.5 years. A total of 19 PVPs were applied to the 15 patients. While initial VAS scores were 7.9 +/- 1.6, at the end of an average of 10.3 +/- 3.8 ( range: 4-18) months of follow-up, VAS scores had fallen to 2.6 +/- 2.7. 80% of the patients reported at least a 50% reduction in pain scores compared to initial scores, and 86.7% of them reported at least a 2-point decrease in VAS scores. In three patients, leakage of cement into the intervertebral disc occurred. Conclusion: PVP may be used successfully in symptomatic vertebral compression fractures not responding to medical treatment, with a low rate of complications.