Results of kyphoplasty in the minimally invasive treatment of vertebral metastasis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome of minimally invasive surgical treatment of vertebral metastases using the technique of kyphoplasty. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of patients with the diagnosis of spinal metastasis who underwent minimally invasive surgical treatment by filling the vertebral body with balloon kyphoplasty technique. Clinical evaluation included patient age at surgery, diagnosis of the tumor, biopsy results, data of the surgical procedure performed, visual pain scale (VAS) and complications related to surgery. Radiological evaluation involved the study of radiographic procedures in the anteroposterior and lateral incidences, with the analysis of vertebral body kyphosis and the occurrence of extravasation of cement. RESULTS: 22 patients with spinal metastases who were treated by balloon kyphoplasty, 8 (36%) males and 14 (64%) females were studied. The average age was 56.05 years and the mean follow-up was 8.5 months. The mean preoperative VAS was 8.73, 1.73 in the initial postoperative period, and 1.92 in the late postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Kyphoplasty proved to be a safe and effective technique for symptomatic treatment of vertebral metastases.