Korean J Radiol.  2009 Apr;10(2):185-189. 10.3348/kjr.2009.10.2.185.

CT-Guided Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in the Treatment of an Upper Thoracic Compression Fracture

• Seong JY
• Kim JS
• Jung B
• Lee SH
• Kang HY

• KMID: 1088730
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2009.10.2.185

Abstract

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has been used to relieve pain and to prevent further collapse of the vertebral body in patients with an osteoporotic compression fracture. The most commonly affected site for the use of PVP is the thoracolumbar junction. There are few reports that have described on the usefulness of PVP in the treatment of a high thoracic compression fracture. We report a case of an upper thoracic compression fracture that was treated with computed tomography (CT)-guided PVP. It was possible to obtain easy access to the narrow thoracic pedicle and it was also possible to monitor continuously the proper volume of polymethylmethacrylate employed, under CT guidance.

Keyword

Compression fracture; Computed tomography (CT)-guided PVP; High thoracic; Polymethylmethacrylate

MeSH Terms

Bone Cements/therapeutic use
Cervical Vertebrae/injuries/radiography/surgery
Female
Fractures, Compression/radiography/*surgery
Humans
Middle Aged
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/complications
Polymethyl Methacrylate/therapeutic use
*Radiography, Interventional
Spinal Fractures/radiography/*surgery
Spinal Fusion
Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries/radiography/*surgery
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vertebroplasty/*methods

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 CT-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty in upper thoracic compression fracture in 51-year-old woman. A. Sagittal T1-weighted MR image shows low signal intensities within marrow of C7 to T3 vertebral bodies. B. Fat saturation sagittal T2-weighted MR image shows high signal intensities from C7 to T3, suggesting acute stage of compression fracture. C, D. Axial computed tomographic images show preoperative planning of CT-guided vertebroplasty (C) and well-placed cannula in anterior half of vertebral body (D). E. Sagittal, coronal, and three-dimensional reconstruction CT images show well-injected polymethylmethacrylate cement from T1 to T3 level, respectively. F. Plain radiographs of cervical spine taken five months after surgery show solid bone fusion and good alignment.

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