A large, multicenter Italian study has concluded that vertebroplasty is effective in treating vertebral compression fractures, providing significant and sustained pain relief.
A research team retrospectively evaluated 4,547 patients from six Italian European Vertebroplasty Research Team (EVEREST) centers and found that 4,004 (88.1%) experienced clinically significant pain relief following vertebroplasty. The reduction in pain, which was statistically significant (p < 0.0001), remained improved at each follow-up evaluation up to 12 months.
In other findings, only 430 (13%) of the 4,547 patients were retreated for a subsequent fracture. In 302 (70.2%) of those, the new fracture occurred in the contiguous vertebra, according to the researchers.
Dr. Stefano Marcia, an interventional radiologist at San Giovanni di Dio Hospital in Cagliari, Italy, will present the study findings during a seminar sponsored by Stryker International Spine at the American Society of Spine Radiology's (ASSR) 2010 annual symposium this week in Las Vegas.
Related Reading
Vertebroplasty provides no advantages for osteoporotic spinal fractures, August 6, 2009
Long-term data show vertebroplasty effective for osteoporotic vertebral collapse, March 19, 2008
Back-extensor strength exercises beneficial after vertebroplasty, February 20, 2008
Vertebral body pattern may indicate risk for cement-related fracture, December 5, 2007
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![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnieeurope.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
