01-04-2004 | Original Paper
Distractible vertebral body replacement in patients with malignant vertebral destruction or osteoporotic burst fractures
Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 2/2004
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We studied prospectively the clinical and radiological course of 36 patients with localised spinal instability treated with vertebrectomy. A distractible titanium cage filled with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in combination with transpedicular fixation was used to restore spinal stability. Mean follow-up was 16 (8–55) months. Average correction of the segmental kyphosis was 15.2° (−2–29°). During follow-up, a loss of correction of 0.9° (−2–15°) was seen. Segmental height was increased by 7.6 (0–14) mm on average with a mean loss of 1.6 (0–2) mm. Twenty-one patients without pre-operative neurological deficits were ambulatory without orthosis at discharge. Patients presenting with neurological deficits were unchanged (n=3) or improved (n=12).