Classification,prevention and treatment of bone cement leakage following percutaneous vertebroplasty

AIM: To explore the categorization,prevention and treatment of bone cement leakage following percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP).METHODS: PVP has been performed for vertebral angioma and vertebral body osteoporotic compression fracture in 38 cases(11 men and 27 women) since November,2002.Follow-up ranged from 8 to 16 months in all cases.The curative effect was evaluated based on the standard of WHO.RESULTS: The symptoms were relieved completely or partially in all the(cases.) Bone cement leakage following PVP was classified into 4 types as type Ⅰ(vertebral side),type Ⅱ(intervertebral disc),type Ⅲ(vertebral canal) and type Ⅳ(mixed type).Different treatments were planned according to the different types.The(experience) of preventing bone cement leakage was summed up.CONCLUSION: To prevent the bone cement leakage,we should pay attention to the pre-operative preparation of bone cement,the choice of the anesthesia and the monitoring of the whole operation.The patients of typeⅠ and Ⅱneed not be treated,but the patients of type Ⅲ and Ⅳ who have the symptoms of nerve compression must have an open operation.