Intraspinal Leakage of Bone Cement after Vertebroplasty: A Report of 3 Cases

Vertebroplasty is a procedure used to treat vertebral fractures, most commonly caused by osteoporosis. It involves injecting bone cement into the collapsed vertebral body to provide pain relief and stabilize the fracture. However, complications can occur if the bone cement leaks into unwanted areas, such as the spinal canal. This can lead to serious problems like paralysis or bowel and bladder dysfunction. This report describes three cases where bone cement leaked into the spinal canal after vertebroplasty, causing neurological deficits. The patients required further surgeries and rehabilitation, with varying degrees of recovery.

• 1
  Intraspinal leakage of bone cement during vertebroplasty can lead to significant neurological complications, including paraplegia and bowel/bladder dysfunction.
• 2
  Surgical decompression may be necessary to remove the leaked bone cement and relieve pressure on the spinal cord, but complete removal can be challenging.
• 3
  Thermal injury from the bone cement can also contribute to neurological damage, as evidenced by surgical findings of yellowish dura mater and microscopic findings of fibrosis.