Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging after percutaneous vertebroplasty does not improve the short-term prediction of new compression fractures.

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationships between contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and new compression fractures occurring after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in order to determine the necessity of contrast-enhanced MRI.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The material comprised 13 consecutive patients (27 vertebrae) with compression fractures who underwent vertebroplasty. Twenty-nine adjacent vertebrae were monitored for new compression fractures. We performed contrast-enhanced MRI within the 5 days following PVP.

RESULTS

The 29 adjacent vertebrae displayed 10 enhanced lesions and 19 vertebral bodies without enhancement-unenhanced lesions on MRI within the 5 days after PVP. In 4 out of 10 vertebrae, enhanced lesions were seen within the 5 days after PVP, but no abnormalities were seen on preoperative MRI. In these 4 vertebrae, new compression fractures were seen within the 1 month following PVP. In the other 6 vertebrae, enhanced lesions were seen within the 5 days after PVP, and these signal changes were detected by preoperative MRI in the same area. In 3 of these 6 vertebrae, new compression fractures occurred at 4, 8, and 9 months after PVP, respectively. However, all of the enhanced lesions were detectable on unenhanced MRI, which was conducted at the same time as enhanced MRI.

CONCLUSION

New compression fractures after PVP may be predicted with early postoperative MRI. Contrast-enhanced MRI does not improve detection of the new lesions.