Vertebra plana: reappraisal of a contraindication to percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in treating symptomatic vertebra plana, which is considered a relative contraindication to the procedure.

Methods: Out of 540 levels treated in 260 patients, we treated 40 patients (mean age: 74 years) with vertebra plana between T6 and L3 (37 osteoporotic and 3 metastatic levels). In most cases, the vertebra was accessed with fluoroscopic guidance from a single, transpedicular approach.