Vertebroplasty using transoral approach in painful malignant involvement of the second cervical vertebra (C2): a single-institution series of 25 patients.

Background: Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure demonstrated to be safe and effective in the treatment of painful osteoporotic and malignancy related fractures when performed in the thoracolumbar spine. Multiple randomized and nonrandomized reports have demonstrated its effectiveness. Conversely, transoral vertebroplasty (TOV) to treat the second cervical vertebra (C2) has been described in only a few case reports.

Long-term continuous subcutaneous infusion of ketoprofen combined with morphine: a safe and effective approach to cancer pain.

Objectives: According to international guidelines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids are the cornerstone drugs for cancer pain. In clinical practice, severe cancer pain often requires 3 step analgesics and alternative routes of administration, thus NSAIDs are usually abandoned. Our aim was to evaluate feasibility, safety, and efficacy of ketoprofen combined with opioids in long-term continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSI) for cancer pain in a prospective observational open-label pilot study.