J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2009 Jun;45(6):378-380. 10.3340/jkns.2009.45.6.378.

Extreme Multi-Level Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Newly Developed Multiple Adjacent Compression Fractures

• Kim HW
• Song JW
• Kwon A
• Kim IH

• KMID: 2138430
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2009.45.6.378

Abstract

Osteoporotic patients who undergo percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) have the risk of a repeated collapse of their adjacent vertebral body due to alteration of load transfer into the adjacent vertebral body. The authors have experienced a rare case of repeated osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) resulting in extreme multi-level PVP. A 74-year-old female developed severe back pain after slipping down one month ago. Her X-ray and MR images indicated a T11 VCF. She underwent successful PVP with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Two weeks later, she returned to our hospital due to a similar back pain. Repeated X-ray and MR images showed an adjacent VCF on T12. A retrial of PVP was performed on T12, which provided immediate pain relief. Since then, repeated collapses of the vertebral body occurred 12 times in 13 levels within a 24-month period. Each time the woman was admitted to our hospital, she was diagnosed of newly developed VCFs and underwent repeated PVPs with PMMA, which finally eased back pain. Based on our experience with this patient, repeated multiple PVP is not dangerous because its few and minor complications. Therefore, repeated PVP can serve as an effective treatment modality for extreme-multi level VCFs.

Keyword

Percutaneous vertebroplasty; Extreme multi-level vertebropklasty compression fracture

MeSH Terms

Aged
Back Pain
Female
Fractures, Compression
Humans
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Vertebroplasty
Polymethyl Methacrylate