Safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of metastatic spinal tumors in patients with posterior wall defects.

Purpose: To assess the clinical effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of metastatic spinal tumors in patients with posterior wall defect.

Methods: The treated vertebrae bodies were divided into four groups: group A, non-posterior vertebral wall defect; group B, posterior vertebral wall with cribriform defects; group C, posterior vertebral wall with local fragmentation defects; group D, posterior vertebral wall with severe defects. The injected volume of bone cement, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), cement leakage and survival were analyzed.

Results: The injected volume of bone cement for group A was significantly higher than posterior wall defect group (including group B, C, and D). No significant differences about the injected volume of bone cement among the posterior wall defect groups. The incidence of bone cement leakage for group A was not significantly different as compared to posterior vertebral wall defect group. However, there were significant differences with respect to the incidence of bone cement leakage among the posterior wall defect groups. In four groups the postoperative VAS pain scores and KPS were statistical different as comparison to the preoperative values. No statistical difference with respect to the VAS pain scores and KPS was observed at any time point between the non-posterior wall defect group and posterior wall defect group.

Conclusion: PVP can be an effective treatment for metastatic spinal tumors in patients with posterior wall deficiency; however, care should be taken to control the distribution of the bone cement due to the relatively high risk of cement leakage.