Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in the treatment of malignant vertebral fractures

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty, in the treatment of pain deriving from neoplastic vertebral compression fractures (VCF). We treated 33 oncologic patients with these new techniques (2 pts with aggressive haemangiomas, 8 pts with myelomas and 23 pts with metastases) suffering from severe motion pain in the back, notwithstanding conservative treatment with medication and corset therapy, in the absence of neurological signs. In 3 selected patients we associated radiofrequency heat ablation with vertebroplasty in the treatment of metastases. The aim is to destroy tumor tissue and to thrombose the paraverfebral and intravertebral venous plexus before stabilizing the vertebra.