Complications of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are recently developed techniques for treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Patients with VCFs often experience immediate pain reduction following cement augmentation. Although vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive, there are a number of complications reported. Most complications are asymptomatic; however, some are catastrophic, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. They include pulmonary and neurologic complications from cement leakage, infections, cardiovascular injuries, and cerebrovascular accidents. Adjacent-level fractures are a subject of increasing study recently, and may be associated with cement augmentation procedures, although this remains controversial. This paper reviews the current literature regarding complications associated with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.