Vertebroplasty in the treatment of vertebral metastases: Clinical cases and review of the literature

Bone metastases are the most common tumours affecting the musculoskeletal system. The most frequently affected area of the skeleton is the spine. The vertebral bodies are reached largely via the bloodstream and neoplastic substitution of the bone tissue causes progressive structural destruction leading to loss of stability and compression of the intracanal nerve structures. The treatment of bone metastases in the spine is different and controversial, mostly because of the wide spectrum of clinical and radiographic pattern of the local and systemic disease. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is emerging as one of the most promising new interventional procedures for relieving (or reducing) pain and improve stability. In this article we review indications, contraindications, technique, and complications of percutaneous vertebroplasty in spine metastases.