A review and update of vertebral fractures due to metastatic tumors of various sites to the spine: Percutaneous vertebroplasty

BACKGROUND: Vertebral fractures (VFs) are the most usual convolution of metastatic tumors and the vertebral column is the third most ordinary site for painful bone metastases and remains a chief factor of morbidity in cancer patients. METHODS: In this paper, we investigated the previous literature on the status of clinical and prospects for the use of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) with polymethylmethacrylate as a remedial alternative for the therapy of refractory pain resulting from malignant vertebral compression and pathologic fractures associated with metastatic tumors of various sites in numerous studies. The scientific document for this remedy, containing safety, immediate and long-term efficacy, and outcome measures, and also the risks of complications, was analyzed in detail. RESULTS: PVP is a safe, feasible, reliable, effective, and useful procedure, a minimally invasive treatment, and a significant tool for reduction of pain and the relief of pain symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This method can be employed as a further or narcotic remedy in elected patients. The techniques of PVP present a novel alternative therapy for diverse metastases with potentially large application.