Authors' objectives:

This study aims to assess the usefulness of percutaneous vertebroplasty to relieve the symptoms caused by osteoporotic or metastatic vertebral fractures.

Authors' results and conclusions: Three reports on sanitary technology evaluation were found; one carried out by the United Kingdom's NICE (National Institute for the Clinical Excellence) from September 2003. This report was updated and two reports published thereafter included. Although the results of the trials analysed are promising, their methodological quality is poor. In general, they are series of cases. Two controlled clinical trials that evaluate this procedure are currently being carried out, but there are no results available yet. Therefore, it is not possible to draw conclusions on the benefits of this technology. In the case series performed, the results were positive, with a rate of success between 70 and 85% (measured as pain decrease and movement increase). However, these results are difficult to interpret because this pathology, even without a specific treatment, has a high rate of spontaneous resolution. The side effects reported were infrequent, including complications related to the site of injections and cement extravasation. The procedure has been proposed as an alternative for those patients who did not respond to other treatments and must be performed by a multidisciplinary team that includes both a neurosurgeon and a radiologist trained in the use of this technique.

Authors' recommendations: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a therapeutic alternative to relieve pain and improve motion in patients with vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis, haemangiomas or tumour metastasis that have not responded to other more conservative treatments. The results of the available studies are promising and it seems to be an apparently effective treatment with a low rate of side effects.It is necessary to have more results from current clinical trials to be able to draw definite conclusions on the true benefits of this technology compared with other treatments now being used, and to clearly determine which patients with vertebral fractures could benefit from this procedure.

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.iecs.org.ar/

Year Published: 2004

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Argentina

Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy

Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA

Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar

Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar

Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)