Polymethylmethacrylate cement dislodgment following percutaneous vertebroplasty: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN

A case report is presented.

OBJECTIVES

To report a rare complication of delayed cement displacement following percutaneous vertebroplasty.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Although percutaneous vertebroplasty is considered a minimally invasive procedure, it may result in several complications. To our knowledge, this is the first report of delayed cement displacement after percutaneous vertebroplasty.

METHODS

A 69-year-old man with T12 osteoporotic compression fracture received percutaneous vertebroplasty. One month after surgery, the patient complained of progressive severe back pain, and roentgenographic image revealed a breakdown of the anterior cortex of the T12 vertebral body with anterior displacement of the bone cement.

RESULTS

The complication was solved by one stage anterior and posterior operation: thoracoabdominal approach with removal of the displaced cement and posterior instrumentation from T11 to L1. The severe back pain with associated weakness improved after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

This complication is rare and likely to occur in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fracture with avascular necrosis and anterior cortical defect.