First intention vertebroplasty in fractures within an ankylosed thoracolumbar spinal segment

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of percutaneous vertebral cementoplasty (PVC) as the first-line treatment for traumatic thoracolumbar fractures within an ankylosed spinal segment. Materials and methods: Thirty-one patients (15 men, 16 women; mean age: 79.2 +/- 11 [ SD] years; age range: 66-95 years) with thoracolumbar fractures within an ankylosed spine segment without neurological impairment treated with PVC were retrospectively evaluated. All patients were controlled at six weeks and one year after PVC. Ankylosing conditions, fractures sites and types, radiological consolidation, spinal complications were assessed. Anterior/posterior vertebral height ratios were measured before and after PVC. Postoperative pain relief and treatment success (radiological fracture consolidation) rates were considered. Results: The 31 patients had a total of 39 fractures (19 stable [49%], 20 unstable [51%]) treated with PVC. Primary success rate of PVC (initial fracture consolidation without complication) was 61% (19/31). Seven patients (7/31; 23%) exhibited new fractures, and the secondary success rate of PVC (global fracture consolidation one year after repeat PVC) was 87% (34/39). Global consolidation rates of unstable fractures were 85% (17/20) of treated levels. Pain score was null in 84% patients (26/31) one year after PVC. There were no significant differences between pre -PVC (0.62 +/- 0.18 [ SD]; range: 0.22-0.88) and post-PVC (0.60 +/- 0.18 [ SD]; range: 0.35-0.88) vertebral height ratios (P= 0.94). Conclusion: PVC conveys a high overall success rate and effectively controls pain in patients with vertebral fractures within ankylosed spine segments. (C) 2021 Societe francaise de radiologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Percutaneous vertebral cementoplasty (PVC) is an effective treatment with high success rates for vertebral fractures within ankylosed spine segments, providing pain relief and stable fracture consolidation.