Interventional Spine

STEFANO, MARCIA, MD
MARIO, DRAGANI, MD, Non ASSR Member
STEFANO, MARINI, MD, Non ASSR Member
MARIANGELA, MARRAS, MD, Non ASSR Member
CLAUDIA, BOI, MD, Non ASSR Member
GIORGIO, MALLARINI, Prof, Non ASSR Member

Paper/Non-Mentor

Purpose

prove the effectiveness of a bone subsitute (Cerament, Bone Support, Sweden) in the treatment of osteoporotic or traumatic vertebral fractures with percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Methods & Materials

from March to October 2009 28 patients(10male, 18female, average age:53,2) underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty. We treated 57 vertebral bodies by means of injection of Cerament(calcium solfate60%+hydroxyapatite40%) through 10 and 13Gauge bevel-edge needles (Gangi type). About 3cc of bone cement was injected for each vertebra. Patients had been previously evaluated with clinical examination and with X-Ray, CTms and MRI T2w STIR. All the procedures were executed with local anaesthesia under digital fluoroscopic guidance.
Clinical evaluation and assessment of pain by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-10) and a Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, 0-50) test was performed before and one month after the procedure. We also carried out X-Ray, CTms and MRI checks at one, three and six months.

Results

we have obtained a progressive reduction of the pain in all the patients(Av. VAS pre: 7.83, av. VAS post 1.66, av. VAS difference: 6.17) and a good improvment of the quality of life(Av. ODI pre: 22.81. av. ODI post: 8.64, av: ODI difference: 14.17), a progressive reduction of bone edema evaluated through MRI T2w STIR and a progressive inclusion of the bone cement evaluated through CTms. No complications arose.

Conclusion

our preliminary studies prove that calcium solfate could result in being an actual substitute of PMMA in the treatment of osteoporotic and traumatic vertebral fractures, especially in young patients.