Use of vertebroplasty to prevent proximal junctional fractures in adult deformity surgery: a biomechanical cadaveric study.

Background Context: Vertebral compression fractures at the proximal junction are common complications of long spinal fusion surgeries that can contribute to the development of proximal junctional kyphosis or proximal junctional failure. To our knowledge, no biomechanical studies have addressed the effect of vertebral augmentation at the proximal junction.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic vertebroplasty in reducing the incidence of vertebral compression fractures at the proximal junction after a long spinal fusion in a cadaveric spine model.