Vertebra plana: reappraisal of a contraindication to percutaneous vertebroplasty.

ABSTRACT

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. All patients underwent a preliminary MRI examination, an immediate, post-procedure radiological examination, and a follow-up examination (mean duration, 6 months). RESULTS: Both immediate and follow-up examinations showed that the mean pain and physical disability scores were significantly reduced compared to the scores before treatment (p ≤ 0.001). No complications occurred during the procedures. In 23/40 cases, asymptomatic intradiscal cement leakage occurred. Posterior or perivertebral leakage never occurred. In most cases, an intravertebral cleft was present, and we filled it with polymethylmethacrylate, which healed the pseudarthrosis. Partial vertebral height was restored in 7 cases. In 6 cases, a new fracture occurred between 1 and 3 months at a different level from the treated level. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results showed that PVP was a safe, effective treatment for symptomatic vertebra plana; thus, it should not be discounted for this group of patients. In most cases, the procedure was favored by the presence of an intravertebral cleft that appeared to contribute to minimizing the risk of posterior cement leakage. Filling the cleft with polymethylmethacrylate allowed intravertebral stabilization.