Complication Avoidance and Management

Even if standard vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) are perceived as percutaneous mini-invasive surgical techniques and serious consequences are rare, compared to the number of procedures annually performed worldwide, complications do occur: cement leakages possibly causing spinal cord and roots compression, intercostal neuralgia, embolization of cement into vena cava and pulmonary embolism, fractures of the ribs or pedicles, pneumothorax, hemothorax, adjacent vertebral fractures, and infections. Operators should be well trained in spinal anatomy, fluoroscopic imaging and the different methods of augmentation procedures to foreseen, prevent or adequately treat such complications.