Balloon Kyphoplasty
The article focuses on a case report of four patients who developed radiculopathy, a condition characterized by nerve pain, after undergoing percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (PKP) for vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis. Despite experiencing improvements in back pain, these female patients with osteoporosis developed radiculopathy ranging from 2 to 16 weeks after the procedure. They all underwent another operation to address the issue, with three patients recovering completely and one patient dying from postoperative intracranial hemorrhage. Imaging studies revealed that retropulsed bone fragments that impinged on the corresponding nerve root were responsible for the complications. The article highlights that while PKP is an effective treatment, there is a risk of neurological injury, and the integrity of the posterior vertebral cortex should be carefully evaluated preoperatively to prevent such complications
Summarised by Mr Mo Akmal – Lead Spinal Surgeon
The London Spine Unit : most specialised sugical centre in London
Published article
Although PKP is a safe and effective treatment for painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, a risk of catastrophic neurological injury remains. Radiculopathy with delayed onset caused by a retropulsed bone fragment after kyphoplasty is rare and challenging to treat, and the integrity of the posterior vertebral cortex should be carefully evaluated preoperatively to prevent this complication.
Balloon Kyphoplasty Surgery Expert. Best Spinal Surgeon UK
Abstract Background: Vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis are common in elderly patients and are often encountered by clinical physicians. Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (PKP) is widely accepted as a minimally invasive procedure for effectively relieving pain and correcting deformities, but complications may occur. Radiculopathy with a delayed onset caused by a retropulsed bone fragment has,
Abstract
Background: Vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis are common in elderly patients and are often encountered by clinical physicians. Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (PKP) is widely accepted as a minimally invasive procedure for effectively relieving pain and correcting deformities, but complications may occur. Radiculopathy with a delayed onset caused by a retropulsed bone fragment has not been adequately described in the literature. Thus, this article presents a case report of four cases of retropulsed bone fragment-related radiculopathy after PKP.
Case presentation: In this article, we reported that four out of 251 patients developed radiculopathy after PKP between January 2012 and January 2019 despite experiencing substantial improvements in back pain. All patients with radiculopathy were female and diagnosed with osteoporosis, and their ages ranged from 68 to 89 years. Radiculopathy occurred from 2 to 16 weeks after PKP. All four patients underwent another operation (posterior decompression and instrumentation). Three patients recovered completely, and one died of postoperative intracranial haemorrhage. A detailed imaging study with pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that retropulsed bone fragments that impinged on the corresponding root after PKP were responsible for this complication, and all four patients developed a disrupted posterior vertebral rim preoperatively. No leakage of cement or pedicle track violations were observed.
Although PKP is a safe and effective treatment for painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, a risk of catastrophic neurological injury remains. Radiculopathy with delayed onset caused by a retropulsed bone fragment after kyphoplasty is rare and challenging to treat, and the integrity of the posterior vertebral cortex should be carefully evaluated preoperatively to prevent this complication.
Keywords: Complication; Kyphoplasty; Osteoporosis; Radiculopathy; Retropulsed bone fragment.
The London Spine Unit : most specialised sugical centre in London
Read the original publication:
Delayed-onset radiculopathy caused by a retropulsed bone fragment after percutaneous kyphoplasty: report of four cases and literature review
