Vertebroplasty with Decompression for Epidural Extending Vertebral Hemangiomas: An Alternative Technique

Abstract

AIM: To document the effectiveness of an alternative surgical technique with concurrent vertebroplasty and decompression without instrumentation for patients with vertebral hemangioma presenting with neural compression symptoms. MATERIAL and METHODS: This study is a technical note and a retrospective clinical evaluation. We analyzed the data of 8 patients operated with our alternative surgical technique for vertebral hemangiomas with epidural extension and neural compression, between 2013 and 2018. The preoperative, postoperative 1st month and postoperative 12th-month Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were assessed and compared. RESULTS: Five of the patients had lumbar and 3 had thoracic hemangiomas. The difference between preoperative and 1st and 12th-month Visual Analogue Scale scores were statistically significant. None of the patients received additional intervention, stabilization, or needed a blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: This technique is a safe and minimally invasive approach for vertebral hemangiomas with epidural extension allowing decompression of the spinal cord without massive hemorrhage.