Unipedicular Approach for Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Published on 10/03/2015 by admin

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Last modified 10/03/2015

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Chapter 19 Unipedicular Approach for Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Unipedicular vertebroplasty is a percutaneous unipedicular approach [1,2] for introducing polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into the collapsed vertebral body to provide reinforcement that will relieve pain immediately. There are two distinct approaches for percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), the transpedicular approach and the extrapedicular approach (Table 19.1). These approaches are further described in Table 19.2 and Figure 19-1.

Most patients (88%) who require vertebroplasty for a collapsed vertebral body also suffer from facet joint pain with radicular pain around the affected vertebrae that is difficult to distinguish from the pain caused by the pathology of the vertebral body. Administration of facet joint or medial branch blocks before PVP will relieve the pain that is caused by the facet joints. These blocks can be given to the patient immediately prior to the PVP procedure, in the same session. The patient can then give crucial information to the operator about the specific pain caused by the collapsed vertebral body. Blocks cannot be performed after PVP because on fluoroscopy, the bone cement makes a shadow around the painful facet joints.

The action mechanisms for pain relief from PVP are as follows: