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Percutaneous Vertebroplasty¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, PO Box 800170, Charlottesville, VA 22908. Received March 26, 2002; revision requested June 5; revision received September 26; accepted November 6. Address correspondence to M.E.J. (e-mail: mej4u@virginia.edu).

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

 
This review, aimed at current practitioners of vertebroplasty, highlights recent changes in patient work-up and procedural techniques that have streamlined the authors’ clinical practice. Preprocedural work-up, including history, physical examination, and adjunctive imaging techniques, are discussed. Technical details are reviewed, including types of equipment, techniques of needle placement, and utility of venography. Postprocedural issues are noted, including risk of subsequent fracture after vertebroplasty, long-term outcome of cement in the vertebral body, and utility of prophylactic vertebroplasty. Finally, the current state of evidence in support of the efficacy of vertebroplasty are discussed, with particular attention to the need for ongoing clinical trials.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Radiology and radiologists, How I Do It • Spine, fractures, 30.4111, 30.4112 • Spine, interventional procedures, 30.1269 • Spine, vertebroplasty, 30.1269

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

 
The first percutaneous vertebroplasty of which we are aware was performed in Europe in 1984 and reported in the literature in 1987 (1), and the first vertebroplasty in North America was performed in 1993 and reported in 1997 (2). There are currently over 253 published reports focused on vertebroplasty. Most of the literature regarding percutaneous vertebroplasty is based on results in early technical reports (2,3) and case series (4), which include methods for patient selection, procedural details, and postprocedural care. Since the time these previous studies were published, numerous modifications in patient evaluation and procedural technique have been made to better define the appropriate patient population, to decrease surgery time, and to optimize overall patient care. Some of these modifications have been published in the literature, but many have not.

Our target audience for this review is current practitioners of vertebroplasty who already have some knowledge of the basic indications, techniques, and vertebroplasty literature. Our goal is to identify specific areas where the approach to vertebroplasty has changed substantially over the past several years, with an emphasis on technical changes and clinical research. In addition, the current state of evidence on the efficacy of vertebroplasty will be discussed, with specific focus on the need for future clinical trials.

While this review, by necessity, contains our biases and opinions on the ideal way to run a vertebroplasty service, we do not want to imply that our techniques are the only valid ones. However, as it will become clear in the following review, we have made substantial efforts recently to justify our methods by careful study of our clinical database, which comprises approximately 530 treatment levels in 320 unique patients, and to report important lessons from these studies.

	PATIENT EVALUATION AND PREPROCEDURAL WORK-UP

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

 
A listing of appropriate clinical features for patients being considered for vertebroplasty can be found in the American College of Radiology Standards 2000–2001 (5). In our practice, by and large, we adhere to clinical indications in the American College of Radiology standards. However, our approach to patient evaluation has changed substantially since 1993. During the early development period of percutaneous vertebroplasty, the typical patient presented with subacute or chronic back pain that was unresponsive to medical therapy, with a new fracture documented on a conventional radiograph (2). Selection criteria included focal discomfort at palpation over the spinous process of the involved vertebra and absence of radicular symptoms or neurologic deficits. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was often performed to evaluate for nerve root compression or retropulsed fragments. While most of these features are still considered relevant in the patient work-up, substantial changes in our approach to patient selection have been made on the basis of our clinical experience. These revisions involve imaging evaluation, physical examination, and determination of the duration of pain prior to the performance of vertebroplasty.

Adjunctive Imaging for Identification of Symptomatic Fractures
Although much has been written about imaging procedures required prior to vertebroplasty, the role of such imaging remains largely speculative (empiric) at this point. Patients referred to us have often undergone a wide array of radiologic studies, including conventional radiography, bone scintigraphy, CT, and/or MR imaging. We have tried to determine which studies are the most helpful in identifying who is most likely to respond to treatment. Patients with a documented new or subacute fracture on a conventional radiograph and who meet the clinical criteria regarding pain pattern usually proceed to vertebroplasty without undergoing other imaging. Adjunctive imaging is indicated in patients with single or multiple fractures of uncertain age or when serial conventional radiographs are unavailable. Results from physical examination alone may be misleading in this setting. Either bone scan imaging or MR imaging is potentially useful. There is only one published report of which we are aware regarding the use of scintigraphy in preprocedural evaluation of patients being considered for vertebroplasty (6). In that small retrospective series, a high percentage of patients (94%) achieved nearly complete pain relief after vertebroplasty of those vertebral levels that showed increased uptake of tracer, even in a challenging patient population with multiple fractures of uncertain age (Fig 1). In some cases, especially with multiple severe compression fractures, exact labeling of vertebrae on bone scans is difficult, although use of a radioactive and radiopaque marker helps make identification possible.

View larger version (101K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 1a. Images in an elderly woman with low back pain. (a) Lateral radiograph shows multiple lumbar compression fractures of indeterminate age. Clinical examination demonstrated nonfocal tenderness over the lower back. (b) Posteroanterior and oblique bone scan images show marked uptake at L1 (arrows). After treatment of this single vertebra, the patient’s pain was relieved.

View larger version (105K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 1b. Images in an elderly woman with low back pain. (a) Lateral radiograph shows multiple lumbar compression fractures of indeterminate age. Clinical examination demonstrated nonfocal tenderness over the lower back. (b) Posteroanterior and oblique bone scan images show marked uptake at L1 (arrows). After treatment of this single vertebra, the patient’s pain was relieved.

View larger version (83K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 2a. Images in a 50-year-old woman being treated with high-dose steroids who presented with worsening back pain. (a) Lateral radiograph shows multiple thoracic and lumbar compression fractures of indeterminate age. Sagittal (b) T1-weighted (750/12) and (c) turbo spin-echo T2-weighted (4,500/112) MR images show no evidence of edema to indicate a new fracture; however, (d) posteroanterior bone scan demonstrates intense radionuclide uptake at L3 (arrow). (e) Fluoroscopic spot image. After injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) (arrows), the patient noted marked relief of her pain.

View larger version (100K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 2b. Images in a 50-year-old woman being treated with high-dose steroids who presented with worsening back pain. (a) Lateral radiograph shows multiple thoracic and lumbar compression fractures of indeterminate age. Sagittal (b) T1-weighted (750/12) and (c) turbo spin-echo T2-weighted (4,500/112) MR images show no evidence of edema to indicate a new fracture; however, (d) posteroanterior bone scan demonstrates intense radionuclide uptake at L3 (arrow). (e) Fluoroscopic spot image. After injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) (arrows), the patient noted marked relief of her pain.

View larger version (98K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 2c. Images in a 50-year-old woman being treated with high-dose steroids who presented with worsening back pain. (a) Lateral radiograph shows multiple thoracic and lumbar compression fractures of indeterminate age. Sagittal (b) T1-weighted (750/12) and (c) turbo spin-echo T2-weighted (4,500/112) MR images show no evidence of edema to indicate a new fracture; however, (d) posteroanterior bone scan demonstrates intense radionuclide uptake at L3 (arrow). (e) Fluoroscopic spot image. After injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) (arrows), the patient noted marked relief of her pain.

View larger version (47K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 2d. Images in a 50-year-old woman being treated with high-dose steroids who presented with worsening back pain. (a) Lateral radiograph shows multiple thoracic and lumbar compression fractures of indeterminate age. Sagittal (b) T1-weighted (750/12) and (c) turbo spin-echo T2-weighted (4,500/112) MR images show no evidence of edema to indicate a new fracture; however, (d) posteroanterior bone scan demonstrates intense radionuclide uptake at L3 (arrow). (e) Fluoroscopic spot image. After injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) (arrows), the patient noted marked relief of her pain.

View larger version (139K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 2e. Images in a 50-year-old woman being treated with high-dose steroids who presented with worsening back pain. (a) Lateral radiograph shows multiple thoracic and lumbar compression fractures of indeterminate age. Sagittal (b) T1-weighted (750/12) and (c) turbo spin-echo T2-weighted (4,500/112) MR images show no evidence of edema to indicate a new fracture; however, (d) posteroanterior bone scan demonstrates intense radionuclide uptake at L3 (arrow). (e) Fluoroscopic spot image. After injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) (arrows), the patient noted marked relief of her pain.

CT provides information about fracture involvement of the pedicles and posterior elements, which may help determine the appropriate needle path. CT allows measurement of the pedicular diameter, which may influence the size of the needle chosen for puncture, particularly in the more gracile thoracic vertebral pedicles. However, we recently reviewed our series of thoracic vertebroplasties and found that the size of the needle used did not result in a difference in complication rate (8). Forty-seven vertebral bodies were treated in 34 patients. Eleven-gauge needles were used in 40 (85%) of 47 treatments, while 13-gauge needles were used in seven (15%) treatments. Postvertebroplasty fracture involving the pedicle used for needle access was noted in one (2%) of 47 treatments; this pedicle had been traversed by using a 13-gauge needle. We favor the larger-gauge needle over the smaller needle because, in our experience, it is easier to direct precisely during placement.

Postvertebroplasty CT has been recommended by some authors for postprocedural documentation, although there is no evidence in the literature to suggest that such a policy affects clinical practice. We reserve CT for those patients who remain symptomatic after vertebroplasty, especially in cases of possible nerve root irritation from methacrylate. CT is very sensitive to the presence of small amounts of methacrylate, however, and unnecessary interventions because of small amounts of extraosseous methacrylate might be performed in asymptomatic patients.

Duration of Pain Prior to Vertebroplasty
From its inception, vertebroplasty has been reserved for treatment of patients who have failed a course of conservative medical treatment (2–5,9,10). Although no defined waiting period was rigorously observed, most patients were treated 6–12 weeks after the onset of pain. Patients who were hospitalized for pain control requiring parenteral narcotics were excluded from this requirement and were treated acutely. This conservative approach was instituted because of concern about the risk-benefit ratio of vertebroplasty; even though complications are rare, vertebroplasty results in a permanent medical implant. The natural history of osteoporotic compression fracture is, in a substantial percentage of patients, spontaneous resolution of pain within 4–6 weeks (11,12).

In recent years we have noted an increasing number of patients to whom vertebroplasty is offered early after fracture. Typically, these patients are referred from physicians who have clinical experience with vertebroplasty, have been extremely pleased with the outcomes, and would like to avoid the use of potent analgesics or immobilization in their elderly patients. Further, we frequently are asked to perform early vertebroplasty by patients who have previously been treated successfully and have sustained a subsequent fracture. In most cases, we will proceed with early vertebroplasty in these patients. We recently have analyzed our patient outcomes as a function of fracture age (13). Even though subjective pain relief was reported as excellent regardless of fracture age, patients with more chronic fractures failed to improve with regard to use of analgesics. This lack of decrease in medication requirement noted in patients with more chronic fractures may have resulted from chemical dependency, which suggests some disadvantage to delaying vertebroplasty. We no longer require a failure of medical therapy prior to our offer to perform vertebroplasty; however, adopting such a course may result in nonpayment by Medicare. In addition, adoption of early vertebroplasty might result in substantial increases in the number of such procedures performed, with resultant increases in societal costs for treatment of painful compression fractures.

Physical Examination and Vertebroplasty
In the past, focal pain elicited by palpation over the spinous process of the fractured vertebra has been used as a patient-selection criterion. Patients have been excluded from treatment when their point tenderness has been located remote to the affected vertebra. The presence of radicular pain involving the lower extremities or low back pain that radiates to the hip may disqualify a patient or lead to a different intervention, such as facet injections.

In our experience, however, a physical examination is not always entirely sensitive or specific for determination of patients who will have a good outcome after vertebroplasty. We have evaluated our clinical data in retrospective fashion, identifying 10 patients where no local pain was present over the fracture site. We compared this group with 90 patients who demonstrated focal tenderness (37). We failed to detect a significant difference in outcome between these two groups. In addition, we frequently noted nonlocalizing pain patterns in patients with Kummell osteonecrosis, in which radicular pain, hip pain, or pain several levels from the fracture is present (Fig 3). We surmise that the relief of radicular pain is due to stabilization of an unstable fracture. We have also noticed that after successful vertebroplasty, patients often develop paravertebral pain that radiates to the hip (14). We suspect that alleviation of the bone pain unmasks pain associated with facet disease, since patients usually gain relief after facet injection.

View larger version (105K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 3a. Lateral radiographs in an elderly woman with acute low back pain. (a) Severe anterior wedge deformity of L2 during weight bearing is demonstrated, but restoration of height and pain relief occurred in the recumbent position. T2-weighted MR image (not shown) depicted a large intravertebral cavity, consistent with Kummell osteonecrosis. (b) After vertebroplasty, height restoration and vertebral stability are shown, with resolution of symptoms.

View larger version (115K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 3b. Lateral radiographs in an elderly woman with acute low back pain. (a) Severe anterior wedge deformity of L2 during weight bearing is demonstrated, but restoration of height and pain relief occurred in the recumbent position. T2-weighted MR image (not shown) depicted a large intravertebral cavity, consistent with Kummell osteonecrosis. (b) After vertebroplasty, height restoration and vertebral stability are shown, with resolution of symptoms.

	TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

Radiographic Visualization
Complications are more likely to occur when visualization of needle placement or cement injection is poor. Therefore, operators should use the highest quality fluoroscopy available to them and avoid poor-quality imaging systems such as older bedside units. Although vertebroplasty can be performed by using a single-plane unit, biplane monitoring of fluoroscopic images decreases procedural time and enables orthogonal visualization of the injection. The availability of digital subtraction angiography allows documentation of needle placement and evaluation of the trabecular space and epidural veins. In cases of osteolytic metastases or treatment of cervical or upper thoracic vertebrae, needle placement may be facilitated by using CT guidance (15,16) or CT fluoroscopy. Regardless of the modality used for needle placement, the injection of PMMA should always be performed with direct fluoroscopic control. We have attempted injection by using CT fluoroscopy but did not feel confident that the PMMA distribution was adequately visualized. Cement may flow in a cephalic and/or caudal orientation, which would be difficult to identify with real-time transverse CT. Some operators have performed serial injections of small aliquots of acrylic by using intermittent CT scanning, with relative success (16).

Needles
Needle selection is operator dependent. To our knowledge, there are no studies on comparison of performance among needle types that might guide selection. Multiple needles are available that are excellent for vertebroplasty. Important attributes include the shape of the tip of the stylet (Fig 4) and the cannula, as well as the type of handle. We prefer to use a system that includes two types of stylets. The first stylet has a sharp multibeveled or "diamond-shaped" tip and facilitates entry into the pedicle. In our experience, single-beveled stylets tend to slide off the pedicle. Once we have traversed the pedicle, we typically remove the multibeveled stylet and place a single-beveled stylet. Although there are no data to support this, we believe that the single bevel allows one to steer the needle tip slightly (Fig 5).

View larger version (46K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 4. Needles suitable for vertebroplasty are supplied with a variety of stylets: A, single bevel; B, multibevel point; C, diamond point; D, threaded stylet. (Image courtesy of Parallax Medical.)

View larger version (75K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 5a. (a) Lateral radiograph shows initial trajectory (arrow) of the needle, which places the tip anteriorly at the midportion of the vertebral body. However, use of a beveled stylet, with bevel face pointing upward, deflects the tip downward. (b) Lateral radiograph shows that final position of the cannula approximates the anterior inferior corner of the vertebral body (arrow).

View larger version (80K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 5b. (a) Lateral radiograph shows initial trajectory (arrow) of the needle, which places the tip anteriorly at the midportion of the vertebral body. However, use of a beveled stylet, with bevel face pointing upward, deflects the tip downward. (b) Lateral radiograph shows that final position of the cannula approximates the anterior inferior corner of the vertebral body (arrow).

View larger version (155K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 6. Lateral radiograph shows curved stylet, which allows the operator to deposit PMMA precisely at superior (arrowheads) and inferior (arrows) endplates. The referring physician specifically requested that reinforcement of these locations be performed prior to a surgical procedure.

There are at least four PMMA products currently available, including Secour (Parallax Medical), Codman Cranioplastic (Johnson and Johnson, Bracknell, England), Osteobond (Zimmer, Warsaw, Ind) and Surgical Simplex P (Stryker-Howmedica, Limerick, Ireland). Important differences are seen among these products with regard to polymerization time. The Stryker-Howmedica and Zimmer products have relatively rapid polymerization, wherein the cement becomes too viscous to inject within 5–7 minutes. This polymerization time can be prolonged by refrigerating the powdered polymer pack and liquid monomer vial prior to use or by placing syringes filled with the acrylic in an ice bath. The rapid polymerization of the cement may limit the ability to inject multiple levels with a single mix. If using the Codman product, we recommend the slow-polymerization type, which allows 17–20 minutes of working time (unpublished data, 1999). Because it takes time for the powdered PMMA component to dissolve in the liquid monomer, the manufacturer of Secour recommends addition of a "solvation time" of approximately 2–3 minutes after mixing and before injection. This added time allows the powder to dissolve into the liquid, preventing their separation during injection. Such separation may lead to the formation of a powder plug within the needle.

Opacification
Perhaps the most critical attribute that facilitates safe vertebroplasty is excellent opacification of cement. Authors of early reports (1–4) suggested use of either barium sulfate and powdered tungsten or tantalum. We have observed that ideal visualization of cement is achieved by using relatively large particles of barium, on the order of 1 mm in diameter, which can be tracked easily during slow injection of cement. Smaller particles or finely sifted opacifiers provide a gray background to the cement, but this gray background is difficult to discern against the overlying tissues. As such, we have abandoned the use of tungsten powder. Tracers (Parallax Medical) is composed of various sizes of barium sulfate particles and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cement opacification. Another barium product is offered by Bryan (Woburn, Mass). Barium is already present in the Stryker-Howmedica PMMA product, but it is not a sufficient amount for opacification, and use of additional barium is recommended.

Antibiotics
We routinely add tobramycin (Nebcin; Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, Ind) to the cement mixture, on the basis of information in the surgical literature supporting this practice (17). Other practitioners advocate use of intravenously administered antibiotics (7), but we reserve use of these for patients who are substantially immunocompromised. We have encountered one case of iatrogenic infection, with Staphylococcus epidermidis, among 250 consecutive patients treated with vertebroplasty (unpublished data, 2002). This single patient was taking multiple immunosuppressive medications and thus was at high risk. In similar situations in the future, we will use intravenous antibiotics in addition to antibiotics placed into the cement.

Injection Devices
Although various methods have been proposed for cement injection, the majority of our experience has been gained by using 1-mL syringes. The 1-mL syringes are inexpensive, require minimal storage space, and allow exquisite tactile feedback during injection, which we consider to be important to prevent large amounts of cement extravasation. There are several commercially available injection devices (from Parallax Medical, Cook, and Stryker-Howmedica) for the delivery of cement. These injection devices increase the distance between the operator and the x-ray tube; facilitate anteroposterior fluoroscopy during injection, because the operator’s hands are out of the field; and allow a single connection of the injector to the needle. Use of 1-mL syringes rather than an injection device is largely determined by operator preference.

	VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

 
Vertebral Venography
Some practitioners (2,18) of percutaneous vertebroplasty described the use of intraosseous venography prior to cement infusion, to map the venous outlets from the vertebral body (Fig 7). On the basis of the venographic findings, the operator would gain confidence in his or her ability to prevent extraosseous cement extravasation, since the outlets would be known already. Alternatively, the needle could be repositioned if injection showed a large direct venous connection. Some practitioners even suggested protective venous embolization with gelatin foam sponges or other embolic agents prior to cement injection.

View larger version (127K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 7a. Prone intraosseous venograms obtained during (a) anteroposterior and (b) lateral injections of contrast material prior to vertebroplasty shows rapid filling of intraosseous venous complex followed by egress into paravertebral veins (PVV) and basivertebral plexus (BVP). Filling of inferior vena cava (IVC) demonstrates how cement migration into the venous system may result in pulmonary embolization.

View larger version (139K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 7b. Prone intraosseous venograms obtained during (a) anteroposterior and (b) lateral injections of contrast material prior to vertebroplasty shows rapid filling of intraosseous venous complex followed by egress into paravertebral veins (PVV) and basivertebral plexus (BVP). Filling of inferior vena cava (IVC) demonstrates how cement migration into the venous system may result in pulmonary embolization.

Although we no longer consider it necessary to perform venography prior to cement infusion, some operators may find the venogram to be comforting, as it defines the exact point where the basivertebral plexus exits the vertebral body and outlines the paraspinal venous system. Previously, authors (19) have reported the use of venography to help detect direct venous communications and predict PMMA flow characteristics and potential sites of egress.

Needle Placement
Unipedicular versus bipedicular vertebroplasty.—Authors of early reports (1–4) of vertebroplasty described bipedicular vertebroplasty with separate cement infusions into both hemivertebra with the use of two needles. Bipedicular injections were performed in an effort to maximize volume of cement placed into the vertebra. However, two needle placements and two injections result in relatively long procedures. Further, monitoring of the second injection is often problematic, given that the indwelling barium-opacified cement from the initial injection obscures visualization.

To speed procedure time and eliminate the need for separate injections, many practitioners have adopted a unipedicular technique for vertebroplasty. This technique involves placement of the needle tip in the midline of the ventral aspect of the vertebral body by using a transpedicular approach, with the expectation that the central portion of the vertebra can be filled (20). The technique is slightly different when comparing lumbar to thoracic vertebra. In the lumbar region, the appropriate oblique approach can be found by angling the anteroposterior tube laterally until the "scotty-dog" profile is seen over the pedicle, with approximately 20° of lateral angulation. The pedicle is punctured in its midportion, with the needle tip placed in the upper one-third of the pedicle, just medial to the lateral pedicular border. Substantial angulation is more difficult in thoracic vertebrae, because the pedicles are oriented in the straight anteroposterior direction. The pedicular outline may become difficult to visualize with minimal angulation. In our experience, the proper obliquity is achieved by angling the anteroposterior tube laterally until the pedicle projects over the medial one-fifth of the vertebral body (19).

We have performed a retrospective review of cases performed with a unipedicular versus a bipedicular technique (20). We were unable to demonstrate any difference in clinical outcome between the two groups, even though there was a small statistically significant difference in percentage of vertebral body filling when comparing unipedicular and bipedicular procedure results. On the basis of these considerations, we use the unipedicular approach in essentially all cases.

Volume of cement.—The amount of cement required for good clinical outcome has never been systematically studied, to our knowledge. Testing of cadaveric spines suggests that up to 8 mL of cement is required to achieve biomechanical integrity (21). However, the risk of extraosseous extravasation of cement increases with increasing volumes of cement injected (22). To minimize the risk for such extravasation, we tend to place relatively small amounts of cement into a given vertebral body.

We have recently reviewed our experience when performing "high-volume" vertebroplasty, defined as injection into a vertebral body of more than 3 mL, versus "low-volume" vertebroplasty, defined as injection of less than 3 mL (unpublished data, 2002). Although we have not yet correlated such volumes to vertebral level or percentage of collapse, we did not detect clinically important differences in outcome between the low- and high-volume groups. These data may offer comfort to inexperienced practitioners who want to minimize risk for extraosseous cement extravasation by "underfilling" the vertebral body.

Potential cardiovascular changes with PMMA administration.—Authors of reports in the orthopedic literature (23–25) have shown cardiovascular compromise due to instillation of large amounts of PMMA during hip arthroplasty. We have studied a large cohort, including 142 vertebroplasties in 78 patients, where detailed cardiovascular data were documented before, during, and after PMMA injection (26). We noted no change in mean arterial blood pressure or heart rate at any point in time. There was a statistically significant decrease in percentage of oxygen saturation 10 minutes after PMMA injection; however, this difference was very small, with mean preprocedure saturation of 98.0% and mean postprocedural saturation of 97.4%, and was considered clinically irrelevant.

Multilevel vertebroplasty.—Currently, many practitioners routinely treat multiple fractures at a single session. Not uncommonly, we will treat two to three levels at one session (Fig 8) and have treated up to five vertebrae at a single session. We know of no published study in which the safety of multilevel vertebroplasty has been investigated. We have studied the relative efficacy of single- versus multilevel vertebroplasty (unpublished data, 2002). Three groups were studied, including patients treated at a single level at one session, patients treated at multiple levels at a single session, and patients treated at multiple levels at multiple sessions. When performing multilevel vertebroplasty, we routinely place multiple needles at once before preparing the cement. We then inject multiple pedicles sequentially, using the same batch of cement. In this retrospective review, we demonstrated equivalent pain relief among the three groups. To our surprise, however, we noted that mobility was significantly more impaired for the single-level group than for the other groups. The reason for this difference between groups is unknown.

View larger version (111K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 8a. Multilevel vertebroplasty in a 60-year-old woman with steroid-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who presented with severe midthoracic back pain unresponsive to narcotic analgesia. (a) Sagittal T1-weighted (750/12) MR image shows three adjacent thoracic compression fractures at T7, T8, and T9. (b) Lateral radiograph shows vertebroplasty of thoracic vertebrae. Patient’s pain resolved after vertebroplasty of all three levels. She returned 1 month later with new lumbar pain, and a new L4 fracture was treated. (c) Patient returned 1 month later with new fractures of L1 and L2, identified on sagittal T1-weighted (750/12) MR image, which were injected. Ultimately, she went on to fracture three more vertebral bodies.

View larger version (75K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 8b. Multilevel vertebroplasty in a 60-year-old woman with steroid-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who presented with severe midthoracic back pain unresponsive to narcotic analgesia. (a) Sagittal T1-weighted (750/12) MR image shows three adjacent thoracic compression fractures at T7, T8, and T9. (b) Lateral radiograph shows vertebroplasty of thoracic vertebrae. Patient’s pain resolved after vertebroplasty of all three levels. She returned 1 month later with new lumbar pain, and a new L4 fracture was treated. (c) Patient returned 1 month later with new fractures of L1 and L2, identified on sagittal T1-weighted (750/12) MR image, which were injected. Ultimately, she went on to fracture three more vertebral bodies.

View larger version (97K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 8c. Multilevel vertebroplasty in a 60-year-old woman with steroid-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who presented with severe midthoracic back pain unresponsive to narcotic analgesia. (a) Sagittal T1-weighted (750/12) MR image shows three adjacent thoracic compression fractures at T7, T8, and T9. (b) Lateral radiograph shows vertebroplasty of thoracic vertebrae. Patient’s pain resolved after vertebroplasty of all three levels. She returned 1 month later with new lumbar pain, and a new L4 fracture was treated. (c) Patient returned 1 month later with new fractures of L1 and L2, identified on sagittal T1-weighted (750/12) MR image, which were injected. Ultimately, she went on to fracture three more vertebral bodies.

	OUTCOMES

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

View larger version (83K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 9a. Lateral radiographs in 35-year-old, obese, steroid-dependent woman with asthma who presented with severe lumbar pain. (a) Acute compression fractures of the superior endplate of L1 (upper arrows) and inferior endplate of L4 (lower arrows) are shown. After vertebroplasty, the patient returned to full activity, with relief of her pain; 2 weeks later, however, she was admitted for recurrent back pain. (b) Repeat radiograph shows new superior endplate fractures of L2 and L3 (arrowheads).

View larger version (78K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 9b. Lateral radiographs in 35-year-old, obese, steroid-dependent woman with asthma who presented with severe lumbar pain. (a) Acute compression fractures of the superior endplate of L1 (upper arrows) and inferior endplate of L4 (lower arrows) are shown. After vertebroplasty, the patient returned to full activity, with relief of her pain; 2 weeks later, however, she was admitted for recurrent back pain. (b) Repeat radiograph shows new superior endplate fractures of L2 and L3 (arrowheads).

These data indicate that in the majority of patients treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty, there is stability of degree of vertebral compression, kyphosis, and cement morphology. In a minority of patients, there may be progressive kyphosis and compression at the treated level, which indicates the need for prospective study with complete clinical and radiographic follow-up evaluation after vertebroplasty.

Prophylactic Vertebroplasty
The notable pain relief achieved with vertebroplasty raises the question of whether we should routinely perform prophylactic vertebroplasty at nonfractured levels in patients who present with painful fractures. Prophylactic vertebroplasty might be justified if one could accurately identify patients at extremely high risk for new-onset fractures and could predict which nonfractured levels will undergo spontaneous fracture. Lindsay et al (31) reported on a large series of patients who were followed up after an index fracture; within 1 year after the initial fracture, approximately 25% of patients experienced a new fracture. Exact locations of new fractures were not reported. We and others have noted that approximately 20%–25% of patients return with new, painful fractures after being treated with vertebroplasty (29). As noted earlier, approximately one-half of these new fractures are at sites not adjacent to the previously treated vertebra. Thus, since only a minority of patients return with new painful fractures, and, since it is impossible to predict which levels will undergo subsequent fracture, we do not consider prophylactic vertebroplasty to be justifiable. Furthermore, Medicare will not reimburse for prophylactic vertebroplasty at this time.

Outcomes Measures
The majority of studies on vertebroplasty have relied on rudimentary outcomes measurements, typically including pain relief, change in mobility, and change in medication requirements. For most patients, accurate recollection of pain severity is difficult. Ideal outcome measures would be sensitive and specific for subtle changes in health status. Measures of global health status, such as the SF-36 Health Survey, are difficult to administer in patients with severe back pain. There exist no vertebroplasty data obtained with the SF-36, but authors of a recent article on kyphoplasty (32) reported use of the SF-36 and found significant changes in physical functioning and pain domains.

Even without use of relatively cumbersome questionnaires such as the SF-36, the vertebroplasty literature could be enhanced by using validated disease-specific outcomes instruments. Other specialties use a variety of back pain–specific disability instruments, including the Ostwestry Back Pain Index (33), the Roland Scale (34), and the Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (35). We have recently gained experience with the Roland Scale, which is a validated low back pain–related measurement tool that is easy to administer in person and on the telephone (34). We noted, in a series of 16 consecutive patients, not only that the questionnaire was readily accepted by both patients and interviewers, but also that significant short-term improvements in function were achieved after vertebroplasty (unpublished data, 2002). Future investigators should examine whether any of these instruments can be administered reliably in patients treated with vertebroplasty.

Sham Trial
Several respected authorities have noted the lack of controlled prospective trials for vertebroplasty (36). In our local environment, one third-party payer has recently concluded that insufficient evidence is available to support vertebroplasty, and payment has been denied. The apparent clinical benefits of vertebroplasty may reflect either the natural history of painful compression fractures, where spontaneous resolution is common, or the placebo effect. We and others (34) have proposed a sham-controlled trial to demonstrate that the benefits of vertebroplasty are real. Recently, we have carried out a pilot study to demonstrate the feasibility of enrolling patients into a sham-controlled trial of percutaneous vertebroplasty (unpublished data, 2002).

Institutional review board approval was obtained for a prospective, randomized, blinded trial to compare percutaneous vertebroplasty and sham vertebroplasty. Patients were randomly assigned to either the vertebroplasty or the sham condition. The sham condition included fluoroscopically guided placement of a 25-gauge needle and infiltration of the pedicle with 10 mL of 0.25% bupivicaine (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill), without placement of either the vertebroplasty needle or cement. Methacrylate monomer (Secour; Parallax Medical) was opened in the angiography suite to simulate cement preparation. To simulate cement deposition, localized pressure was placed on the patient’s back and operators gave verbal clues typical of those given during cement injection. After 14 days, patients who failed to respond to the initial treatment (vertebroplasty or sham) were crossed over to the other procedure but remained blinded to treatment type. Subjects were asked to guess which procedure they underwent initially, to determine whether blinding was attained.

Nine patients were screened. Five patients agreed to enroll in the trial. All patients had documented fractures; a bone scan was used in cases where the age of the fracture was unknown. Three patients were initially randomly assigned to the sham procedure. One of these experienced a new fracture 48 hours after the sham procedure and was excluded from the trial. Two patients in the sham group gained minimal pain relief from the sham procedure and thus crossed over to vertebroplasty. Pain relief after vertebroplasty in these two patients was minimal. Two other patients were initially assigned to undergo vertebroplasty. Pain relief after vertebroplasty was minimal and both of these patients crossed over to the sham procedure. One of these two patients gained complete pain relief following the sham procedure. All five patients guessed that they had undergone the sham condition as the initial treatment.

We conclude that enrollment of patients in a sham-controlled trial of percutaneous vertebroplasty is feasible. We have some concern that selection bias, where patients with lesser degrees of pain would be more likely to enroll than patients with severe pain, may dilute the apparent effect of vertebroplasty. We conclude that patients are unable to accurately discern whether sham or true vertebroplasty is being performed. Complete pain relief can be achieved with the sham procedure, even after failure of vertebroplasty. The placebo effect may play an important role in determining the outcome of vertebroplasty.

	CONCLUSION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

 
Percutaneous vertebroplasty has been embraced by the North American radiology community within the past decade. Although the basic principles behind vertebroplasty remain unchanged, the technical aspects have been dramatically affected by operator experience, product development, and critical evaluation of large series of patients. Although questions concerning the safety of vertebroplasty have been answered, its efficacy and durability remain clouded owing to the lack of randomized controlled trials and uncertainty over the role of the placebo effect. Radiologists have spearheaded the effort behind the validation of vertebroplasty. It remains incumbent on us to silence any doubts about the role vertebroplasty should play in patient care through our continued thoughtful questioning evaluation of this procedure.

	FOOTNOTES

 
² Current address: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Abbreviation: PMMA = polymethylmethacrylate

M.E.J. is a paid consultant (co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Board) for Parallax Medical, which makes vertebroplasty products, and a shareholder in the company that owns Parallax Medical.

	REFERENCES

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PATIENT EVALUATION AND... TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS VERTEBROPLASTY TECHNIQUE OUTCOMES CONCLUSION REFERENCES

 

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