Complication of the Augmented Vertebral Body after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Patients with Osteoporotic Compression Fracture: Hammer Effect: Preliminary Report

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous vertebroplasty has been known to be one of the most effective procedure for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, providing immediate relief of the pain and early mobilization. The goal of this study is to find out the influence of the augmented vertebral body on the adjacent bodies after percutaneous vertebroplasty. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-two patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty from 1998 to 2000. 10 patients were suffered from severe back pain without any obvious traumatic event during the follow-up period and underwent magnetic resonance(MR) images. RESULTS: Despite of absence of the traumatic events, MR imagies showed compression fracture of the adjacent vertebral body with low signal on T1WI. Among 10 patients, percutaneous vertebroplasty was repeated in 8 patients, One case was treated with conservative treatment and 1 case with refusal of vertbroplasty. All patients result in good relief of the pain except refusal case. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results suggest that the spontaneous vertebral compression fracture might be developed due to'Hammer effect'without any obvious traumatic event after percutaneous vertebroplasty in osteoporosis.