Less PMMA Injection as an Independent Factor for Poor Neurologic Recovery in Malignant Vertebral Compression Fractures With Symptoms of Neurologic Compression Following Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Abstract

Background: Recent years, percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has gained wide clinical acceptance as an effective treatment option for patients with intractable pain related to compression fractures of the spine. But little is known about PVP for spinal malignant lesions with epidural involvement in patients with neurologic deficit. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of PVP for malignant vertebral compression fractures with symptoms of neurologic compression following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), and evaluate the predictive factors for poor outcomes following PVP. Methods: Forty-three patients with malignant vertebral compression fractures with symptoms of neurologic compression were treated with PVP. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale at the last follow-up. Data were collected and the patients followed-up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and yearly after the procedure. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate factors predictive of poor neurologic compression symptoms recovery. Results: PVP were successful in all patients. Full recovery from (n = 2) or improvement of (n = 16) neurologic compression symptoms were achieved in 18 patients (Group A), and no improvement of neurologic compression symptoms in 25 patients (Group A). Univariate analysis showed more PMMA leakage ( P = 0.038) and less PMMA volume injection ( P < 0.001) was associated with the poor symptoms of neurologic compression recovery, and multivariate analysis showed that less PMMA volume injection ( P = 0.004) was an independent predictor for poor symptom of neurologic compression recovery. Conclusion: Our results indicated PVP should not be served as an effective treatment of malignant compression fractures with symptoms of neurologic compression, and less PMMA volume injection was an independent predictor of poor symptom of neurologic compression recovery.