Vertebral augmentation with a flexible curved needle: preliminary results in 17 consecutive patients

J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2008 Dec;19(12):1785-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2008.09.008. Epub 2008 Oct 31.

Abstract

This report details a trial demonstrating the viability of a blunt-tipped curved needle for use as a cement injection device for vertebral body augmentation. Between January and September 2007, 17 consecutive patients (eight men and nine women; average age, 76 years; age range, 52-97 years) underwent vertebral body augmentation with a blunt-tipped curved nitinol injection needle via a single pedicle to treat pain due to acute vertebral body compression fractures. All patients were successfully treated without complication. The results of the trial demonstrate that a curved blunt-tipped nitinol needle is a viable alternative to a rigid injection cannula when performing vertebral body augmentation with cement.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alloys
  • Back Pain / etiology
  • Back Pain / surgery
  • Bone Cements*
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Fractures, Compression / complications
  • Fractures, Compression / diagnostic imaging
  • Fractures, Compression / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Needles
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiography, Interventional
  • Spinal Fractures / complications
  • Spinal Fractures / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Fractures / surgery*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vertebroplasty* / instrumentation

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Bone Cements
  • nitinol