Abstract
Purpose
In the last 15 years, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have become established operative procedures for treating osteoporotic vertebral-body fractures and vertebral bodies afflicted with metastases. These procedures are quickly performed with few personnel and material resources and have a low rate of complications. However, cases of neurological impairment are reported in the scientific literature. We analysed whether potentially harmful heat is radiated/conducted by the polymerisation temperature of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement in the spinal canal.
Methods
We performed vertebroplasty on 25 vertebral bodies and measured the temperature distribution during polymerisation of bone cement within the spinal canal using heat probes placed in the respective areas. The vertebral bodies were located in a circulating water bath at 37°C.
Results
During polymerisation of the bone cement, a temperature rise was measured. The peak temperature was reached after few minutes. Temperature curves differed; a maximum temperature of up to 43.16°C was detected for a few seconds only.
Conclusion
When vertebroplasty is performed correctly, there is no temperature development that could eventually damage the spinal cord or spinal nerves.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the Biomet Deutschland GmbH for financial support of this study. The company had no influence on study design and results. The authors express their gratitude to Mr. Peter Dirschedl for his statistical consulting.
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Wegener, B., Zolyniak, N., Gülecyüz, M.F. et al. Heat distribution of polymerisation temperature of bone cement on the spinal canal during vertebroplasty. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 36, 1025–1030 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1382-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1382-8