Treatment of vertebral pathological fractures by percutaneous vertebroplasty

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a consecutive series of patients undergoing vertebroplasty for pain control, according to results and complications in the short and medium follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records of 26 patients undergoing vertebroplasty from January 2007 to December 2010. Patients were evaluated by the questionnaire of assessment of low back pain (Oswestry Index) and the visual analog pain scale (VAS) on the day before surgery, on the second day and 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Significant improvement of pain symptoms within 48 hours after surgery was reported in 22 patients (91.6%), two patients (8.32%) showed moderate improvement. Of the 22 patients with significant pain relief, 21 (95.4%) maintained the benefit and one (4.6%) had intense pain (new fracture in the body of L1) at a mean follow up of 12 months. Regarding the Oswestry Index, preoperative average was 52.9%. On the second day and 12 months after surgery this average was 23.6% and 24.5%, respectively; good results according to this index. Two patients were excluded from the study due to incomplete medical records. CONCLUSION: Despite the small sample size and short follow-up, the results of vertebroplasty were effective for the relief of pain symptoms and were safe as regards the risks of complications.