The circulatory effects of multilevel balloon kyphoplasty (BK) are not adequately addressed, neither the effectiveness of egg shell cementoplasty in preventing anticipated cement leakage in difficult cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate

the effect of multilevel BK to blood pressure and arterial blood gasses;

Materials and methods: This is a prospective study of 89 patients (215 vertebral bodies-VBs) with osteoporotic compressive fractures (OCF), and 27 with osteolytic tumors (OT) (88 VBs). The mean age was 67.6 years. 27 patients with OCF were treated at one level, 26 at two, 21 at three, 7 at four, 6 at five, and 2 at six levels at the same sitting. Three patients with OT were treated at one level, 6 at two, 9 at three, 3 at four, 4 at five, and 2 at seven. Egg shell balloon cementoplasty to prevent cement leakage was performed in 10 patients with severe endplate fracture or vertebral wall lytic destruction. Arterial blood pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored during surgery. Arterial blood gases were measured before and 3 min after cement injection. Cement leakage was assessed by the postoperative x rays and computer tomography scans.

Results: A drop in blood pressure of more than 25mmHg during cement injection was observed in 6 patients, and was not associated with the number of VB treated. Blood pressure was dropped more than 40mm in 2 patients and the procedure was aborted after completing 1 level in the first and 2 levels in the second. Drop in arterial O2 saturation was noted in 4 patients. One patient treated for 5 levels developed fever and tachepnoea for 24 hours after surgery. Arterial O2 and chest x-rays were normal. Cement leakage was found in 9.7% (21/215) of VBs treated for OCF. Its incidence per location was: epidural, 0.9% (2 VBs); intraforaminal, 0.5% (1 VB); intradiscal, 3.2% (7 VBs); and through anterior or lateral walls, 5.1% (11 VBs). In the OT group cement leakage was found in 10.2% (9/88) of the treated VBs. Its location included 8 (9%) through the anterior or lateral walls and one (1.1%) intradiscal. Cement leakage had no clinical consequences. No cement leakage was observed in cases treated with egg shell balloon cementoplasty.

Conclusions: BK is a safe procedure when applied for multiple levels in the same sitting, and its rare circulatory effects are not related to the number of levels treated. The incidence of cement leakage in this study was 10%, which is far less than that reported with vertebroplasty using routine postoperative CT scan. Egg shell balloon cementoplasty can effectively minimize cement leakage in cases with fractured endplate or lytic destruction of VB walls.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of methylmethacrylate cement balloon kypho-plasty (BK) when applied to five or six levels in the same sitting and the incidence and location of cement leakage.

Methods: Eighty nine patients (215 vertebral bodies-VBs) with osteoporotic compressive fractures (OCF), and 24 with osteolytic tumors (OT) (72 VBs) were treated with BK. Of patients with OCF, 27 were treated at one level, 26 at two, 21 at three, 7 at four, 6 at five, 2 at six levels. Of OT patients, 3 were treated at one level, 5 at two, 9 at three, 3 at four, and 4 at five.

Results: A drop in blood pressure of more than 25mmHg during cement injection was observed in four patients, and was not associated with the number of VB treated. The procedure was aborted in two patients. Otherwise no significant drop in arterial O2 was noted. One patient treated for 5 levels developed fever and tachepnoea for 24 hours after surgery. Arterial O2 and chest x-rays were normal. Pain significantly improved in 95% of patients with OCF and 98% of patients with tumors. In the osteoporotic group, kyphosis correction was achieved in 91% with a mean correction of 7.89°. Cement leakage occurred in 21/215 VBs (9.7%); Epidural: two (0.9%), intraforaminal: 1 (0.5%), intradiscal: 7 (3.2%) while through the anterior or lateral vertebral wall: 11 (5.1%). In the OT group leakage occurred in 6 VBs (8.3%), including 9 (7.0%) through the anterior or lateral wall and one (1.3%) intradiscal. None of the patients had any clinical consequences associated with cement leakage.

Conclusions: BK is a safe and effective procedure, even when applied for 5 or 6 levels. End plate fracture or vertebral wall lytic destruction can effectively be managed by eggshell balloon cementoplasty, thus minimizing the incidence of cement leakage. The incidence of cement leakage with KP (9.8%) is far less than that reported with vertebroplasty, (65.5% shown on CT scans).

Purpose: The purpose of this biomechanical study was to assess: (1) the effect of thoracic vertebral compression fracture (VCF) on kyphosis and physiologic compressive load path, and (2) the effect of balloon kyphoplasty and spinal extension on restoration of normal geometric and loading alignment.

Methods: Six fresh human thoracic specimens, each consisting of three adjacent vertebrae were used. In order to create a VCF, IBTs were placed transpedicularly into the middle VB and cancellous bone was disrupted by inflation of IBTs. After cancellous bone disruption the specimens were compressed using bilateral loading cables until a fracture was observed. Fracture reduction by spinal extension, and then by balloon kyphoplasty was performed under a physiologic compressive preload of 250 N. The vertebral body heights, kyphotic deformity, and location of compressive load path were measured on video-fluoroscopy images.

Results: The VCF caused anterior VB height loss of 3715%, middle-height loss of 3416%, segmental kyphosis increase of 147.0 degrees, and vertebral kyphosis increase of 135.5 degrees (p< 0.05). The compressive load path shifted anteriorly by 20% of A-P endplate width in the fractured and adjacent VBs (p=0.01). IBT inflation alone restored anterior VB height to 918.9%, middle-height to 9114%, and segmental kyphosis to within 5.65.9 degrees of pre-fracture values. The compressive load path returned posteriorly in all three VBs (p=0.00): the load path remained anterior to the pre-fracture location by 9–11% of the A-P endplate width. The extension moment fully restored the compressive load path to its pre-fracture location. Under this moment, the anterior and middle VB heights were restored to 858.6% and 749.4% of pre-fracture values, respectively. The segmental kyphosis was fully restored to its pre-fracture value; however, the middle height and kyphotic deformity of the fractured VB remained smaller than the pre-fracture values (p< 0.05).

Conclusions: An anterior shift of the compressive load path in VBs adjacent to VCF can induce additional flexion moments. The eccentric loading may contribute to the increased risk of new VB fractures adjacent to an uncorrected VCF deformity. Extension moment could fully correct the segmental kyphosis but could not restore the middle height of the fractured vertebral body. Balloon kyphoplasty reduced the VCF deformity and partially restored the compressive load path to normal alignment.

Purpose: A retrospective study comparing the fusion rate and, the incidence of junctional spinal stenosis between a rigid (Wiltse) and a semirigid (Varifix) posterior spinal fusion system.

Material & Methods: 92 patients, mean age 52.3 year old, underwent posterior fusion with semirigid Varifix system (rod diameter 5.0 mm), and 89 patients, mean age 49.8 year old, with rigid Wiltse system (6.5 mm). The mean follow-up was 4.8 years (range 2–9) for Varifix group and 11.7 years (range 9–17) for Wiltse group. Preoperative diagnosis was spinal stenosis (n=56), disc degenerative disease (n=43), degenerative spondylolisthesis (n=37), post-laminectomy instability (n=34), and isthmic spondylolisthesis (n=11). In all patients autologous iliac crest bone graft was used. Spinal fusion was confirmed by A-P, lateral, and flexion-extension radiographic studies, or by direct surgical exploration and observation. Pain intensity was recorded using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results: Successful fusion was achieved in 92.4% in the semirigid group and in 93.2% for the rigid group. There was no statistical difference in fusion rate between these two groups (p=0.82). Eight patients with pseudoarthrosis were treated by anterior fusion and 5 by repaired posterior fusion, with a fusion rate of 100%. Postoperative infection was diagnosed in 5 patients (5.4%) in the semirigid group and in 4 patients (4.5%) in the rigid group. They were treated by debridement, irrigation, and intravenous antibiotics. Hardware removal because of pain was performed in 9 patients (9.8%) in the semirigid group, and 17 patients (19.1%) in rigid group. Removal of hardware resulted in improvement in pain in all patients. Junctional spinal stenosis was diagnosed in 2 patients (2.2%) in semirigid group and in 7 patients (7.9%) in rigid group. There was a trend for higher incidence of adjacent level stenosis in rigid group (p=0.07).

Conclusion: Biomechanical studies have shown that the stiffness of spinal construct depends on rod diameter and a decrease in rod rigidity can increase the risk of implant failure. In our study we didn’t find any difference in the fusion rate and in complication rate between these two systems. The increased percentage of the junctional spinal stenosis in rigid group may be explained by the longer follow-up in this group. According to our data the semirigid system may be better tolerated than the rigid system.

Purpose: To describe the percutaneous transpedicular biopsy technique as a novel way of approaching lesion of the thoracic and lumbar spine, to determine the amount of bone retrievable through the pedicle and its diagnostic yield. Material and Methods: Seventy-nine patients underwent 84 biopsies. Seventy-seven procedures were performed with ßuoroscopic guidance arid seven with CT guidance. Seventy-one biopsies underwent under local anesthesia and ten under general anesthesia. Age range of patient was from 3 to 81 years. Results: Adequate specimens for correct diagnosis were obtained in 80 of the 84 patients with the following diagnoses. Pyogenic spondylodiscitis 31, tuberculosis 4, coccidiomycosis 2, echinococcus cyst 1, blastomycosis 1, brucella 4, primary neoplasm 7, metastatic neoplasms 16, osteoporotic fractures 8, osseous repair for insufþciency fractures 5, Pagetñs disease 1. The 4 negative biopsies subsequently proven to be Ç false negative È and were related to faulty biopsy techniques. Conclusion: Pitfalls can be avoided when adhering to the details of our technique. These pitfalls can occur while retrieving the instrumentation without simultaneous withdrawal of the guiding pin; crushing pathological soft tissue against sclerotic or normal bone; or when encountering a sclerotic lesion distal to normal bone without using a sequential type of biopsy specimen-retrieval technique. Any type of bleeding is controllable. The approach is a safe, efþcacious and cost effective and avoids so the problems such low diagnostic yield nerve root injury, pneumothorax and hematoma encountered with conventional needle technique

Aim: Presentation of the application of the transcervical system of posterior spinal fusion Varigrip in spinal infections showing its rapid and safe application and also its stability to the spinal level where it is applied to.

Patients and Methods: 22 patients (13 men / 9 women) with mean age 50, 6 years (18–79) and mean follow up time is 34,6 months (9–62) were included in our study. In 10 patients the level was in lumbar spine and in 12 in thoracic spine. In their admission 16 patients had neurological deficit and 22 mean pain score according to VAS 8, 4 (6–10). ESR was increased in 14 patients, CRP in 20 and 7 patients had also increased WBC. All 22 patients had increased signal of Tc” and 69Ga in the level of the lesion and also pathological signal in MRI (Tl, T2 and Tl with Gadolinium). All the patients underwent posterior spinal fusion using Varigrip system and 17 of these underwent in the same time somatectomy and anterior fusion.

Results: Pathologic organism was isolated to all the patients. In 20 patients the tissue culture of the lesion isolated the pathologic organism and the other 2 patients came to us with positive blood cultures from other hospitals. 6 months postoperatively 21 patients referred pain score according to VAS 2,4 (1–4) and 1 patient had no improvement (5–7). 1 patient died of PE, another of chest infection and one of head injury. 1 patient had recurrence of the infection in another level, 1 had herpeszoster and 1 had infection of the surgical wound. All the patients had neurological improvement postoperatively.

Conclusions: The method is characterized as safe because of avoidance of the neurological structures. It can be applied also safely to patients with osteoporosis. Its application is rapid so the surgical time is minimum and also it doesn’t need image intensifier during the surgical procedure. It can be applied easily either in thoracic or lumbar spine and it provides stability of the spine.

Aim: The aim of our study is to show if there is any relation between scoliosis in the lumbar spine and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Materials and Methods: In 46 postmenopausal women who, according to WHO’s criteria (T-score < −2,5 ), had osteoporosis in lumbar spine and hip and in 40 post-menopausal women with established osteoporosis (T score < −2,5 and at least and vertebral fracture) was estimated clinical and radiological the presence or not scoliotic bow in the lumbar spine. The bone density was measured with DEXA method in the lumbar spine and in the hip and the scoliosis was measured radiologically with Cobb’s method. To all patients has been done full biochemical examination to exclude secondary osteoporosis cases. The radiological examination included face and lateral x-ray of the lumbar and thoracic spine and that was done to detect vertebral fractures and to exclude women with other degenerative lesions. Also were excluded from our study women with primary or metastatic tumors in the spine.

Results: Out of 46 women who had osteoporosis 32 (69%) had scoliotic lumbar bow and in 23 (50%) patients the bow was more than 10 degrees. Out of 40 women who had established osteoporosis 26 (65%) had scoliotic lumbar bow and in 22 patients (55%) the bow was more than 10 degrees. In contrast in the control group of 25 normal postmenopausal women 5 women (20%) had scoliotic lumbar bow and in 2 women (8%) the bow was more than 10 degrees. Also in the group with the 32 osteopenic women (34%) had scoliotic lumbar bow and in 8 women (25%) the bow was more than 10 degrees. Finally in the group of 32 postmenopausal women with degenerative lesions without osteoporosis 13 (31%) had scoliotic lumbar bow and only in 6 (18%) the bow was more than 10 degrees.

Conclusions: After the statistical analysis of the results is evident that postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis have also scoliosis in the lumbar spine.

Aim: Presentation of the technique, the mistakes and the results of a new minimal invasive surgical procedure for reduction and augmentation of pathological fractures of the vertebrae in spine.

Patients and Methods: 12 patients (2 men / 10 women) with mean age 68 years (54–73) with pathological vertebral underwent kyphoplasty. The mean pain according to VAS was 7, 3 (6–10) and the mean follow up time is 8 months (5–14). 11/12 patients (20 vertebrae) had osteoporotic vertebral and 1/12 (1 vertebra) had metastatic lesion. 8/21 vertebrae were in thoracic spine and 13/21 in lumbar spine. In 20/21 the procedure was transcervical to the vertebra and in 1/21 was out of the cervix. 11/12 patients had kyphotic deformity in the plain x-ray and 18/21 vertebrae had decreased their height. To all patients was spilled PMMA.

Results: 10/12 patients referred degrease of their pain in the first 48 hours and 2/12 in the 5th postoperative day. Correction of the kyphotic deformity was observed in 11/12 and reduction of the reduction of the fracture was occurred in 16/21 vertebrae. Leakage of PMMA was occurred in 5/21 vertebrae; in 2/5 the leakage was in the canal, in 1/5 in the intervertebral space and in 2/5 out of the vertebrae. 1/12 patient 2 moths postperatively had another vertebral fracture in a lower vertebra that was deled again with kyphoplasty. None of the patients had neurological deficit postoperatively. According to Oswestry questionnaire all the patients referred return to all their before fracture daily activities.

Conclusions: Kyphoplasty in pathological vertebral fractures has as a result the immediate decrease of the pain and the return of the patient to his/her daily activities. Also there is correction of the kyphotic deformity decreases the possibility of a new vertebral fracture and the establishment of chronic back pain.

Aim: The evaluation of the results of the posterior application of the combination of the implants Varifix (transcervical screws)/Varigrip (new generation under compression hook with middle line pedicle fixation) to the imstable thoracic and lumbar vertebral fractures.

Patients and Methods: During the years 1999–2001, 30 patients have been operated on with the combination of the implants Varifix/Varigrip to the unstable thoracic (T3–T10: 4), thoracolumbar (T11–L2:21) and lumbar (L3–L5:5) vertebral fractures. Mean age was 33, 5 years and sex variation was 22 men and 8 women. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause and the thoracic and lower limp injuries were the most common (17%) accompanied injuries. For the fracture type and the treatment indications the combination of Gertzbein & Gaines classification was used.

Results: The evaluation of the results was with radiological and clinical examination. Mean surgical time was 170 min (120–240) and the mean blood loss was 500ml (350–800). According to special questionnaire, 25 of the 30 patients (83, 5%) were free of pain and able to return to their previous activities. There was no deterioration in the 24 patients who were in Frankel E neurological condition and the mean post surgical improvement according to Frankel classification was 1, 4 points. In the radiological evaluation (compression percentage, Gardner ankle, conquest of the spinal canal) there was statistical significant difference (p < 0, 05, p < 0, 01, p < 0, 05) between pro and post surgical values. Two patients with acute infection were dealt with surgical cleaning, washing and closing of the wound in second time surgery. One failure of the hook in one patient with osteoporosis was dealt with removal of it.

Conclusions: TheVarifix/Varigrip combination has nearly the same surgical results with traditional partial implants. The satisfactory reduction during the operation in the 30 patients was preserved during the follow up time. The posterior Varigrip system acts with cross link splinting and provides multidirectional spinal stability when it is used alone or supporting the system Varifix for avoiding the detachment or break of the transcervical screws. We suggest the use of these systems for all the unstable thoracic and lumbar injuries because of their safe fixation and easy application.