Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are a widespread problem in the elderly population.
In experienced hands, treatment procedures are safe and can be done in a minimally
invasive fashion. Nevertheless, in rare cases, severe complications may occur. We
present a case report of cement leakage after vertebroplasty of L5 compressing the
nerve root with neurological signs and radiculopathy. An 86-year-old female patient
was introduced to our department with severe L5 nerve root radiculopathy and a foot
flexion paresis after vertebroplasty of L5. Computed tomography (CT) of the lumbar
spine revealed extraforaminal extravasation of cement around the nerve root causing
significant compression. The patient underwent surgical revision using spinal navigation
for skin incision, retractor placing, and verification of the cement extravasation.
The cement plombage was removed, and the patient improved immediately. Sufficient
decompression of the nerve root after cement leakage can be achieved using a spinal
navigation setup in combination with intraoperative CT.
Key-words:
Cement leakage - navigation - neurological deterioration - radiculopathy - revision
- vertebroplasty
