PERCUTANEOUS VERTEBROPLASTY GUIDED BY A COMBINATION OF CT AND FLUOROSCOPY

We describe the technique of percutaneous vertebroplasty using methyl methacrylate. We injected under the guidance of CT and fluoroscopy a g roup of 10 patients with back pain caused by a variety of vertebral le sions including severe osteoporosis (n = 4), hemangiomas (n = 5) and m etastasis (n = 1). Over varying periods of follow-up (ranging from 4 t o 17 months) none of the injected vertebral bodies demonstrated compre ssion. All patients had relief of back pain; none had complications re lated to the technique. We emphasize that the efficacy of this techniq ue in preventing vertebral collapse could not be evaluated in this sma ll sample; a well-controlled study would be required to determine the proper indications efficacy of this treatment.