Imaging of low-energy vertebral fractures.

Low-energy vertebral fractures pose a diagnostic challenge for the radiologist due to their often-inadvertent nature and often subtle imaging semiology. However, the diagnosis of this type of fractures can be decisive, not only because it allows targeted treatment to prevent complications, but also because of the possibility of diagnosing systemic pathologies such as osteoporosis or metastatic disease. Pharmacological treatment in the first case has been shown to prevent the development of other fractures and complications, while percutaneous treatments and various oncological therapies can be an alternative in the second case. Therefore, it is necessary to know the epidemiology and typical imaging findings of this type of fractures. The objective of this work is to review the imaging diagnosis of low-energy fractures, with special emphasis on the characteristics that should be outlined in the radiological report to guide a specific diagnosis that favours and optimizes the treatment of patients suffering of low energy fractures.

Diagnóstico por imagen de las fracturas vertebrales de baja energía / Imaging of low-energy vertebral fractures

Las fracturas vertebrales de baja energía suponen un reto diagnóstico para el radiólogo debido a su naturaleza, frecuentemente inadvertida, y a su semiología en imagen, a menudo sutil. Sin embargo, el diagnóstico de este tipo de fracturas puede resultar determinante, no solo por permitir realizar un tratamiento dirigido que evite complicaciones, sino también por la posibilidad de diagnosticar patologías sistémicas como la osteoporosis o la enfermedad metastásica. El tratamiento farmacológico en el primer caso ha demostrado evitar el desarrollo de otras fracturas y complicaciones, mientras que los tratamientos percutáneos y las diversas terapias oncológicas pueden ser una alternativa en el segundo caso. Por lo tanto, es preciso conocer la epidemiología y los hallazgos por imagen de este tipo de fracturas. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar el diagnóstico por imagen de las fracturas de baja energía, con especial énfasis en las características que deben reseñarse en el informe radiológico para orientar a un diagnóstico específico que favorezca y optimice el tratamiento de los pacientes que padecen este tipo de fracturas.(AU)

Low-energy vertebral fractures pose a diagnostic challenge for the radiologist due to their often-inadvertent nature and often subtle imaging semiology. However, the diagnosis of this type of fractures can be decisive, not only because it allows targeted treatment to prevent complications, but also because of the possibility of diagnosing systemic pathologies such as osteoporosis or metastatic disease. Pharmacological treatment in the first case has been shown to prevent the development of other fractures and complications, while percutaneous treatments and various oncological therapies can be an alternative in the second case. Therefore, it is necessary to know the epidemiology and typical imaging findings of this type of fractures. The objective of this work is to review the imaging diagnosis of low-energy fractures, with special emphasis on the characteristics that should be outlined in the radiological report to guide a specific diagnosis that favours and optimizes the treatment of patients suffering of low energy fractures.(AU)

Percutaneous vertebroplasty versus conservative treatment and placebo in osteoporotic vertebral fractures: meta-analysis and critical review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the current evidence regarding the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) over conservative treatment (CT) and placebo in osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. The main outcomes were pain relief, improvement of functional disability, and quality of life at different time points: short-term (1-2 weeks), medium-term (1-3 months), and long-term (≥ 6 months). Subgroup analyses based on time from fracture onset and sham procedure were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. PVP showed significant benefits over CT in all outcomes, but slight-to-none clear differences over placebo. Subgroup analyses revealed that PVP performed in fractures < 6 weeks provided superior short-term pain relief than the control group (p = .02), and better quality of life in the medium-term (p = .03) and long-term (p = .006). Placebo based on infiltrating the skin alone was significantly inferior to PVP at most time points in all outcomes, but no significant differences between PVP and placebo were found when the sham procedure consisted of infiltrating both the skin and periosteum. CONCLUSIONS: PVP showed significant advantages over CT in terms of efficacy, but benefits were more limited when compared to placebo. In addition, benefits of PVP are more prominent in recent OVFs. Differences in the sham procedure or criteria regarding patient's selection/allocation seem to be the main causes of disparity in previous RCTs. KEY POINTS: • Previous RCTs showed significant advantages of PVP over CT in terms of efficacy, but benefits were more limited when compared to placebo. • Differences in patient allocation or in the sham procedure might explain the lack of benefits of PVP versus placebo found in previous RCTs. • Despite controversial opinions, PVP should be offered to patients with OVFs as an alternative option to conservative treatment.

Plasma rico en plaquetas: ¿mito o realidad? / Platelet-rich plasma: myth or reality?

El plasma rico en plaquetas (PRP) es un preparado con fines terapéuticos cada vez más aceptado en diversas patologías musculoesqueléticas, debido a su teórico potencial para reparar tejidos con baja capacidad curativa. Se han realizado diversos ensayos clínicos aleatorizados que investigan la capacidad del PRP para la reparación de tendones, ligamentos, músculos y cartílago. Hasta la fecha existe evidencia 1A que apoya su uso para la epicondilitis lateral, la osteoartritis de rodilla, la fascitis plantar y tendinopatías del manguito rotador, y evidencia 1B en la tendinopatía del tendón rotuliano y la osteoartritis de cadera. Estudios retrospectivos, de cohortes y series de casos describen resultados prometedores del PRP para el tratamiento de otras patologías musculoesqueléticas. Al ser sus efectos secundarios menores que los de los grupos controles hacen que sea un tratamiento considerado como prácticamente inocuo y cada vez más usado. Son necesarios nuevos ensayos clínicos aleatorizados para establecer futuras indicaciones y confirmar su efectividad y seguridad

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a preparation for therapeutic purposes that is increasingly accepted for various musculoskeletal disorders, due to its theoretical potential to repair tissues with poor healing capacity. Several randomised clinical trials have investigated the capacity of PRP to repair tendons, ligaments, muscles and cartilage, and to date there is level 1a evidence to support its use for lateral epicondylitis, osteoarthritis of the knee, plantar fasciitis and rotator cuff tendinopathy; and level 1b for patellar tendinopathy and osteoarthritis of the hip. Retrospective cohort studies and case series describe promising results with PRP for treating other musculoskeletal disorders. Since its side effects are fewer than those of the control groups, the treatment is considered practically harmless and is being increasingly used. Further randomised clinical trials are necessary to establish future indications, and to confirm effectiveness and safety

Platelet-rich plasma: myth or reality? / Plasma rico en plaquetas: ¿mito o realidad?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a preparation for therapeutic purposes that is increasingly accepted for various musculoskeletal disorders, due to its theoretical potential to repair tissues with poor healing capacity. Several randomised clinical trials have investigated the capacity of PRP to repair tendons, ligaments, muscles and cartilage, and to date there is level 1a evidence to support its use for lateral epicondylitis, osteoarthritis of the knee, plantar fasciitis and rotator cuff tendinopathy; and level 1b for patellar tendinopathy and osteoarthritis of the hip. Retrospective cohort studies and case series describe promising results with PRP for treating other musculoskeletal disorders. Since its side effects are fewer than those of the control groups, the treatment is considered practically harmless and is being increasingly used. Further randomised clinical trials are necessary to establish future indications, and to confirm effectiveness and safety.

Abordaje intervencionista del síndrome facetario lumbar: denervación con radiofrecuencia / Interventional approach for lumbar facet syndrome: radio frequency denervation

Lumbar pain is a common and frequent chronic condition. It is estimated that facet joint pain represents 15-31% of all consultations for low back pain. In suspected facet joint pain, it is recommended to perform nerve blocks to establish the diagnosis. Percutaneous continuous radiofrequency is the most effective treatment to date. We describe the current evidence on the minimally invasive treatment of lumbar facet syndrome and our experience with image guidance with CT and fluoroscopy by means of rhizolysis of the medial branch of the dorsal primary ramus of the spinal nerve.

El dolor lumbar es una entidad común y frecuente crónica. Se estima que el dolor de causa articular facetaria representa el 15-31% de todas las consultas por dolor lumbar. En sospecha de dolor articular facetario se recomienda realización de bloqueos nerviosos para establecer el diagnóstico. La radiofrecuencia continua percutánea es el tratamiento más efectivo hasta la fecha. Se describe la evidencia actual en el tratamiento mínimamente invasivo del síndrome facetario lumbar y nuestra experiencia con las guías de imagen con TC y fluoroscopía mediante rizolisis de la rama medial del ramo primario dorsal del nervio espinal.

Comparación de las técnicas de inyección ecográfica y radioscópica en artro-TC y artro-RM de cadera / Comparison of ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance for injection in CT arthrography and MR arthrography of the hip

Objetivo. Valorar la utilidad de la inyección ecoguiada en la artro-TC y artro-RM de cadera en comparación con la guía radioscópica. Material y métodos. Se revisaron los estudios de artro-RM y artro-TC realizados en el periodo de 1 año entre el 1 de octubre de 2014 y el 1 de octubre de 2015. Se registraron 32 estudios con guía ecográfica y 26 con guía radioscópica, que conformaron dos muestras en las que se valoraron los siguientes parámetros: presencia de una adecuada cantidad de contraste intraarticular, existencia de extravasado o inyección de contraste en partes blandas (presencia de contraste en el psoas o en el resto de partes blandas) y burbujas de gas intraarticular. Posteriormente se realizó un análisis estadístico con el programa SPSS V. 20, en el que se compararon los valores de ambas técnicas mediante la prueba de la ji al cuadrado de Pearson. Resultados. El 56,3% de las inyecciones con ecografía mostraron medio de contraste en las partes blandas, con un 6,3% de procedimientos no válidos para el diagnóstico. Con radioscopia existió extravasado en el 53,8%, con un 3,8% no válido para el diagnóstico. El 21,9% de los estudios con ecografía presentaron gas intraarticular, comparado con el 38,5% en radioscopia. Las diferencias entre los valores de ambas muestras no fueron estadísticamente significativas (p>0,05 en todos los parámetros). Conclusiones. Nuestro estudio demuestra la utilidad de la ecografía como una técnica tan válida como la radioscopia, con la gran ventaja conocida de la ausencia de radiación ionizante (AU)

Objective. To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopy-guided injection in CT arthrography and MR arthrography. Material and methods. We reviewed all CT arthrography and MR arthrography studies done at our center between October 1, 2014 and October 1, 2015. We analyzed 32 studies: 26 with fluoroscopic guidance and 6 with ultrasound guidance. We compared the two techniques on the following parameters: presence of sufficient contrast material in the joint, extravasation or injection of contrast material in the soft tissues (presence of contrast material in the psoas or other soft tissues), and intra-articular gas bubbles. We used SPSS V. 20 to compare the techniques with Pearson's chi-square tests. Results. Contrast material was observed in soft tissues in 56.3% of ultrasound-guided injections, making 6.3% of the procedures invalid for diagnostic purposes. Extravasation of contrast material was observed in 53.8% of fluoroscopy-guided procedures, making 3.8% invalid for diagnostic purposes. Intra-articular gas was observed in 21.9% of ultrasound-guided studies and in 38.5% of fluoroscopy-guided studies. None of the differences between techniques were statistically significant at p<0.05. Conclusions. Our study shows that ultrasound is as useful as fluoroscopy for injecting contrast material for CT arthroscopy and MR arthroscopy; ultrasound has the advantage of not using ionizing radiation (AU)

Comparison of ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance for injection in CT arthrography and MR arthrography of the hip. / Comparación de las técnicas de inyección ecográfica y radioscópica en artro-TC y artro-RM de cadera.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopy-guided injection in CT arthrography and MR arthrography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed all CT arthrography and MR arthrography studies done at our center between October 1, 2014 and October 1, 2015. We analyzed 32 studies: 26 with fluoroscopic guidance and 6 with ultrasound guidance. We compared the two techniques on the following parameters: presence of sufficient contrast material in the joint, extravasation or injection of contrast material in the soft tissues (presence of contrast material in the psoas or other soft tissues), and intra-articular gas bubbles. We used SPSS V. 20 to compare the techniques with Pearson's chi-square tests. RESULTS: Contrast material was observed in soft tissues in 56.3% of ultrasound-guided injections, making 6.3% of the procedures invalid for diagnostic purposes. Extravasation of contrast material was observed in 53.8% of fluoroscopy-guided procedures, making 3.8% invalid for diagnostic purposes. Intra-articular gas was observed in 21.9% of ultrasound-guided studies and in 38.5% of fluoroscopy-guided studies. None of the differences between techniques were statistically significant at p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that ultrasound is as useful as fluoroscopy for injecting contrast material for CT arthroscopy and MR arthroscopy; ultrasound has the advantage of not using ionizing radiation.

Intervencionismo en la columna / Spinal interventions

Presentamos una actualización sobre los diferentes procedimientos intervencionistas percutáneos, guiados mediante técnicas de imagen, y utilizados para el diagnóstico y/o tratamiento de las diversas causas responsables del dolor de raquis. Estos procedimientos pueden ser diagnósticos, terapéuticos o con ambos propósitos. Sus focos de actuación serán fundamentalmente los cuerpos vertebrales, las articulaciones facetarias, el disco intervertebral y las estructuras nerviosas (AU)

We review the state of the art in imaging-guided percutaneous interventional procedures used to diagnose and/or treat the diverse causes of back pain. These procedures can be used for diagnosis, treatment, or both. They are focused on the vertebral bodies, the facet joints, the intervertebral discs, and the nerve structures

Spinal interventions. / Intervencionismo en la columna.

We review the state of the art in imaging-guided percutaneous interventional procedures used to diagnose and/or treat the diverse causes of back pain. These procedures can be used for diagnosis, treatment, or both. They are focused on the vertebral bodies, the facet joints, the intervertebral discs, and the nerve structures.

El final de las vertebroplastias / The end of vertebroplasties

La aparición en el New England Journal of Medicine en el año 2009 de 2 ensayos clínicos que cuestionaban la utilidad de la vertebroplastia en el tratamiento de las fracturas osteoporóticas frente al tratamiento conservador ha abierto un amplio debate en la literatura. Este artículo trata de hacer una revisión crítica de las aportaciones científicas en este campo, desde el punto de vista de la evidencia y de nuestra propia experiencia(AU)

In 2009, two clinical trials that questioned the usefulness of vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures compared with conservative treatment were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, leading to wide debate in the literature. In this article, we provide a critical review of the scientific evidence in this field and discuss our own experience with this technique(AU)

La radiología musculoesquelética en el catálogo de prestaciones radiológicas de la SERAM / Musculoskeletal imaging in the SERAM's catalogue of services

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[The end of vertebroplasties]. / El final de las vertebroplastias.

In 2009, two clinical trials that questioned the usefulness of vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic fractures compared with conservative treatment were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, leading to wide debate in the literature. In this article, we provide a critical review of the scientific evidence in this field and discuss our own experience with this technique.

[Applications of multidetector computed tomography in limb trauma]. / Aplicaciones de la tomografía computarizada multidetector en la patología traumática de las extremidades.

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has significant advantages over plain-film X-rays in the study of the extremities. Acute trauma poses diagnostic challenges, especially in joints in which the overlapping of bony structures impedes the view of the fractures or luxations. Each major joint has at least one classification system for fractures that aims to include the fundamental aspects necessary to orient the most effective treatment. These are the cases in which MDCT's capabilities for multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions provide information that is crucial for the management of trauma to the joint.

Aplicaciones de la tomografía computarizada multidetector en la patología traumática de las extremidades / Applications of multidetector computed tomography in limb trauma

La tomografía computarizada multidetector (TCMD) ofrece significativas ventajas frente a la radiología simple en el estudio de las extremidades. El traumatismo agudo plantea desafíos diagnósticos, en especial en aquellas articulaciones en que la superposición de las estructuras óseas impide una clara visualización de las fracturas o luxaciones. Cada articulación mayor cuenta con al menos una clasificación de fractura que trata de recoger los aspectos fundamentales que orientan al tratamiento más efectivo. Ahí es donde la TCMD, con la posibilidad de reconstrucciones multiplanares y tridimensionales, nos aporta una información crucial para el manejo del traumatismo articular (AU)

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has significant advantages over plain-film X-rays in the study of the extremities. Acute trauma poses diagnostic challenges, especially in joints in which the overlapping of bony structures impedes the view of the fractures or luxations. Each major joint has at least one classification system for fractures that aims to include the fundamental aspects necessary to orient the most effective treatment. These are the cases in which MDCT's capabilities for multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions provide information that is crucial for the management of trauma to the joint (AU)

Tomografía computarizada y resonancia magnética en las enfermedades dolorosas del raquis: aportaciones respectivas y controversias / Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for painful spinal column: contributions and controversies

Las técnicas de imagen tomográficas, tomografía computarizada (TC) y resonancia magnética (RM) se vienen usando cada vez de forma más frecuente, en sustitución o adición a la radiografía simple, para el estudio del dolor de espalda. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una revisión general de las manifestaciones en TC y RM del amplio espectro de enfermedades que pueden ser responsables del dolor generado en la columna vertebral. Este espectro abarca la enfermedad degenerativa, de la alineación vertebral, tumoral, inflamatoria e infecciosa. El conocimiento y la descripción exacta y uniforme de los hallazgos con dichas técnicas suponen un soporte fundamental para la toma de decisiones clínicas en los pacientes con dolor de raquis (AU)

The use of tomographic imaging techniques, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to complement or replace plain-film radiography in the study of spine pain is becoming more and more common. The aim of this paper is to provide a general review of the CT and MRI manifestations of the wide spectrum of lesions that can cause pain in the spinal column. This spectrum includes degenerative disease, malalignment, tumors, inflammatory processes, and infectious processes. Precise knowledge and accurate reporting of the findings at CT and MRI are fundamental for clinical decision making in patients with spine pain (AU)