Results of the minimal invasive surgical treatment of patients with metastatic vertebral fractures

Abstract

Pathological vertebral fractures in oncological patients are extremely painful and causes significant dissability and dramatic decrease in quality of life. In most cases, these patients are not candidates for conventional surgery of stabilization and radiation therapy effects take time for efficient installation. Development of minimally invasive surgical techniques have revolutionized by a simple and efficient approach, the management of pathological vertebral fractures. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty offer patients a minimally invasive, percutaneous procedure that dramatically reduces pain related to pathologic vertebral fractures almost immediately with very low complication rates. Visual analog scale pain scores, analgesic usage and quality of life scales (SF-36) have all been shown have demonstrated their effectiveness to improve in a durable fashion for over 1 year. Also, these interventions have proven efficacy especially after combining them with basic therapy (chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy). Conclusion. Methods of minimally invasive treatment of metastatic vertebral fractures with a rigorous patient selection, provides effective control of pain with reduced consumption of analgesics and the possibility of continuing background therapy, improving thus the quality of life and life expectancy of these patients.