Epidural cement leak in kyphoplasty

Abstract

Vertebral compression fracture, a condition that predominantly affects women over the age of 50, is often debilitating because of severe unrelenting pain. Conservative methods are the first line of treatment; however, when intense pain is associated with significant and rapid decline of functional status, vertebral augmentation procedures are used. Of several complications that have been associated with these interventions, cement extravasation is the most feared one; epidural cement leak has been reported with potential devastating neurologic compromise. We suggest several ways to prevent cement extravasation in vertebral augmentation procedures.