Pain Relief Following Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: Results of a Series of 283 Consecutive Patients Treated in a Single Institution

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess if percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) could relieve back pain, reduce drug consumption, and improve the mobility of patients with metastases and vertebral compression fractures. From August 2002 to July 2004, 283 patients (216 females; mean age: 73.8 +/- 9.9 years) underwent PVP on 749 vertebrae. Pain was evaluated with the pain intensity numeric rating scale (PI-NRS) (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain) before the procedure and at the end point in September 2004 (follow-up:1-24 months; median: 7 months). A reduction of at least two points of the PI-NRS score was considered clinically relevant. Two hundred four patients were available for evaluation at the end point. Overall results showed a reduction of the median pain score from 8 at baseline to 1 at the end point (p < 0.0001); a clinically relevant pain reduction was observed in 176/205 patients (86%); 89/147 patients (61%) gave up a brace support (p < 0.0001); and 117/190 patients (62%) gave up drug therapy. Results were similar in different subgroups stratified according to age, underlying pathology, number of fractured or treated vertebrae, and length of follow-up. This study adds evidence that PVP is effective in treating painful vertebral fractures. A significant reduction in drug assumption and significant mobility improvement can also be achieved.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Multiple Myeloma: Prospective Long-Term Follow-Up in 106 Consecutive Patients

“…Vertebral augmentation achieved through percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) has become a mainstay in the treatment armamentarium. PV was first introduced in 1987 [12] for symptomatic vertebral angioma and then was used in osteoporotic fracture [13] and malignancy [14][15][16][17]. PV has gained world-wide acceptance as an effective minimally invasive treatment for back pain due to vertebral collapse not responding to conservative treatment.…”

The Association between the Duration of Preoperative Pain and Pain Improvement in Vertebral Augmentation: A Meta-Analysis

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Specific clinical and imaging selection criteria include duration and pattern of subjective pain; imaging characteristics on plain film, MR imaging, and CT; and findings on physical examination. Among these selection criteria, duration of pain has garnered substantial interest.…”

CT-Guidance Interstitial 125iodine Seed Brachytherapy as a Salvage Therapy for Recurrent Spinal Primary Tumors

“…In patients in poor general health, PVP has become an effective option. Pain relief in 24 h has been reported and the result was more than 90% [28][29][30]. For patients with relatively large scale vertebral destruction or a high incidence of fractures, PVP or PVP with radioactive seed brachytherapy is the preferred treatment [31].…”