Neurologic deficit following percutaneous vertebral stabilization

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Pa. 1976), 2007-07, Vol.32 (16), p.1728-1734
• Main Authors: PATEL, Alpesh A, VACCARO, Alexander R, CHUNG, Edward H, GRABOWSKI, Gregory, KUKLO, Timothy R, HILIBRAND, Alan S, ANDERSON, D. Greg, MARTYAK, Gregg G, HARROP, James S, ALBERT, Todd J, LUDWIG, Steven C, YOUSSEF, Jim A, GELB, Daniel E, MATHEWS, Hallett H, CHAPMAN, Jens R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Cutaneous; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Female; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neuropharmacology; Neuroprotective agent; Neurosurgical Procedures - adverse effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polymethyl Methacrylate - administration & dosage; Polymethyl Methacrylate - adverse effects; Polymethyl Methacrylate - therapeutic use; Postoperative Complications - chemically induced; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - pathology; Pressure - adverse effects; Radiculopathy - chemically induced; Radiculopathy - diagnostic imaging; Radiculopathy - pathology; Radiography; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies; Spinal Canal - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Canal - drug effects; Spinal Canal - pathology; Spinal Cord Compression - chemically induced; Spinal Cord Compression - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Cord Compression - pathology; Spinal Fractures - chemically induced; Spinal Fractures - drug therapy; Spinal Fractures - surgery; Spinal Stenosis - chemically induced; Spinal Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Stenosis - pathology; Spine - diagnostic imaging; Spine - pathology; Spine - surgery; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
• ISSN: 0362-2436; 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3180dc9c36

A retrospective review. The purpose of this study is to document a series of cases of neurologic deficit following percutaneous vertebral stabilization, to identify patterns of neurologic injury, and to describe potential methods for avoiding these injuries. Percutaneous vertebral stabilization procedures, including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, have become a widely used for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, primary and metastatic vertebral tumors, and traumatic burst fractures. Despite an increasing array of indications, there have been few reports of adverse events. Neurologic complications associated with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have been described previously as case reports and have generally been considered as infrequent and minor in severity. The clinical course of 14 patients with documented loss of neurologic function following percutaneous vertebral cement augmentation was retrospectively reviewed. The average patient age was 74.9 years (range, 46-88 years) with 3 male and 11 female patients. Four patients underwent a vertebroplasty procedure while 10 were treated with kyphoplasty. Six patients developed neurologic deficits acutely (