CT-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty: personal experience in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures and dorsolumbar metastases.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the results and complications of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) performed under CT guidance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 106 patients (182 PVP): 67 for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture, and 39 for osteolytic metastases. The first 78 patients were treated using computed tomography (CT) combined with conventional fluoroscopy as an imaging guide (135 PVP). In 28 patients, the procedure was performed with multislice CT fluoroscopy (47 PVP).

RESULTS: Partial or complete pain relief was obtained in 98% of patients within 24 h from the treatment; significant results were also obtained with regard to improvement in functional mobility and reduction of analgesic use. CT allowed the detection of cement leakage in 43.9%. Severe complications were one case of pneumothorax and two cases of symptomatic cement leakage. Mild complications included two cases of cement pulmonary embolism. During the follow-up, eight osteoporotic patients presented a new vertebral fracture, and new vertebral metastases appeared in two oncological patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our personal experience confirms the efficacy of PVP treatment for both osteoporotic and oncological patients. The use of CT guidance reduces the risk of complications in comparison with conventional fluoroscopy alone, as well as facilitates the detection of small cement leakages.