Does bone cement in percutaneous vertebroplasty act as a stress riser?

Study Design: An in vitro cadaveric study.

Objective: To determine whether percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) with a clinically relevant amount of bone cement is capable of causing stress peaks in adjacent-level vertebrae.

Summary Of Background Data: It is often suggested that PVP of a primary spinal fracture causes stress peaks in adjacent vertebrae, thereby leading to additional fractures.