Anterior thoracolumbar reconstruction surgery for late collapse following vertebroplasty : report of three cases

Although vertebroplasty (VP) using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is thought
to be an effective procedure for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, several
complications have been reported. In this paper, we present three patients who developed
local kyphotic deformity as a result of late collapse of the cemented vertebrae. In
all patients we safely removed the PMMA block through an anterior approach and anterior
reconstruction was performed successfully. In only one patient who had a three column
unstable injury with fractured posterior elements was additional posterior spinal
fixation needed. In conclusion, VP is thought to be an effective and minimal invasive
technique to treat osteoporotic compression fractures in older patients. Once collapse
or nonunion of the treated vertebral body occurs, however, removal of the cement and
anterior reconstruction may be required to realign of the affected segments and reconstruct
the spine.

The journal of medical investigation : http://medical.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp/jmi/index.html