• Stefano Marcia, Claudia Boi, Mario Dragani, Stefano Marini, Mariangela Marras, Emanuele Piras, Giovanni Carlo Anselmetti, and Salvatore Masala.
• Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, S Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy. stemarcia@gmail.com
• Eur Spine J. 2012 May 1; 21 Suppl 1 (Suppl 1): S112S118S112-8.

PurposeThe aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an injectable and partly absorbable calcium bone cement (CERAMENT™, Bone Support, Sweden) in the treatment of osteoporotic or traumatic vertebral fractures by percutaneous vertebroplasty.MethodsFrom March 2009 to October 2010 an open, prospective study in two centres was performed. 33 patients with symptomatic vertebral fractures were enrolled. Patients were included based on evaluation by X-ray, CT, and MRI. Clinical evaluation by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-10) and Oswestry Disability index test (ODI, 0-100 %) was performed before the operation as well as 1, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. Radiology assessment post-procedure was carried out by X-ray, CT, and MRI at 1, 6 and 12 months post-op. Intake of analgesic medications pre- and post-procedure was monitored.Results66 vertebral bodies underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty. VAS score demonstrated a significant decrease from 8.61 (SD 19.8) pre-operatively to 2.48 (SD 2.36) at 1 month. The score was 2.76 (SD 2.68) at 6 months and 1.36 (SD 1.33) at the latest follow up. ODI score dropped significantly from 58.86 pre-op to 26.94 at 6 months and further down to 7.61 at 12 months. No re-fractures or adjacent level fractures were reported.ConclusionData show that CERAMENT can be a substitute of PMMA in the treatment of osteoporotic and traumatic vertebral fractures, especially in young patients.

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