Infected vertebroplasty. Report of two cases and review of the literature

Neurosurg Focus. 2004 Dec 15;17(6):E6. doi: 10.3171/foc.2004.17.6.6.

Abstract

Transpedicular vertebroplasty has been established as a safe and effective treatment for thoracic and lumbar compression fractures. Complications are rare and infectious complications requiring surgical management have only been reported once in the literature. In this paper the authors present two patients in whom osteomyelitis developed after vertebroplasty in which corpectomy was required. The serious nature of these infections, their surgical management, and complication avoidance are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography
  • Spinal Fractures / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Fractures / surgery*
  • Spinal Fusion / adverse effects
  • Spinal Fusion / instrumentation
  • Surgical Wound Infection / diagnostic imaging
  • Surgical Wound Infection / surgery*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / surgery