Efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with painful vertebral metastases: A retrospective study in 47 cases

• 47 patients with painful vertebral metastases were treated with vertebroplasty.
• The pain scores and complications were recorded and analyzed.
• The preoperative mean VAS and postoperative mean VAS showed statistical difference.
• One case showed related complication and was relieved after treatment for one week.
• PVP appeared to be an alternative method to treat painful spine metastases.

ObjectiveThis study was to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in treating vertebral metastases, focusing on the related intractable pain and operative complications including cement leakage, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, dysneuria, etc.Patients and methodsForty-seven patients with spinal metastatic tumours who underwent PVP between September 2011 and March 2013 in the hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Pain scores on one day before the surgery, on one day after the surgery and at the end of the follow-up were recorded using VAS. The VAS scores were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank-sum test using SPSS 19.0. The distribution and leakage of PMMA and complications (cardiopulmonary dysfunction, dysneuria, etc.) were evaluated by CT and plain film.ResultsPVP in all patients was successful. The preoperative mean value of VAS and the postoperative mean value of VAS showed statistical difference (8.4 ± 1.4 and 3.1 ± 2.3 respectively). At the end of follow-up, the mean value of VAS was 3.4 ± 1.9. Bone cement leakage was observed in 35 vertebrae. Among the cases with bone cement leakage, one case showed the related complication (radiating pain in left limb) and was relieved after treatment of dexamethasone and analgesia for one week; the others did not present any related complication.ConclusionWith some limitations in the study, PVP appeared to be an alternative method to treat painful spine metastases.