Hugues Brat MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Tarik Bouziane MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jean Lambert MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate feasability, clinical efficacy and vertebral body reconstruction performed with percutaneous vertebroplasty after stabilization osteosynthesis for unstable burst fractures.

6 patients (M:F 5:1, mean age 47 years) with an unstable spinal burst fracture (2 Th12, 3 L1 and 1 L2 level) underwent immediate primary surgical decompression associated to a stabilization osteosynthesis. Vertebral body surgical distraction resulted in a vertebral neocavity (vacuum) appearance. Vertebroplasty under local anaesthesia with volumetric CT guidance was performed the following day. Cortoss®, a synthetic cortical bone with low porosity and high compressive strength, was used in all cases for vacuum filling. Correct vacuum filling, residual pain, cement stability, vertebral height evolution were followed up before and after removal of osteosyhtetic material.

Volumetric CT guidance allowed correct needle positioning and perfect vacuum filling in all cases. Minor asymptomatic cement leakage in disc and soft tissues has been observed in 2 cases. Pain diseappeared completely the day after vertebroplasty. Follow-up examinations, before and after retrieval of osteosynthetic material showed no change in vertebral height, especially at the level of the anterior wall, and persistence of vertebral body reconstruction.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty after osteosynthetic stabilization of unstable burst fractures ensures pain management and architectural reconstruction of the vertebral body.

Brat, H, Bouziane, T, Lambert, J, Postosteosynthetic Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Unstable Burst Fractures.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4406843.html