Polymethylmethacrylate cement dislodgment following percutaneous vertebroplasty: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report is presented. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare complication of delayed cement displacement following percutaneous vertebroplasty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although percutaneous vertebroplasty is considered a minimally invasive procedure, it may result in several complications. To our knowledge, this is the first report of delayed cement displacement after percutaneous vertebroplasty. METHODS: A 69-year-old man with T12 osteoporotic compression fracture received percutaneous vertebroplasty. One month after surgery, the patient complained of progressive severe back pain, and roentgenographic image revealed a breakdown of the anterior cortex of the T12 vertebral body with anterior displacement of the bone cement. RESULTS: The complication was solved by one stage anterior and posterior operation: thoracoabdominal approach with removal of the displaced cement and posterior instrumentation from T11 to L1. The severe back pain with associated weakness improved after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This complication is rare and likely to occur in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fracture with avascular necrosis and anterior cortical defect.