NormanH Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Has anyone undergone this procedure?I have a compression fracture of the spine which may or may not be secondary to my other cancers.(90% likely not to be in fact, but still bl**dy painful..) To alleviate the pain the radiologist is going to fill the crushed vertebra with a sort of plastic cement at the same time as taking a biopsy. I more or less understand the technique from the passage below, but I wondered if anyone has first-hand experience.Vertebroplasty is usually carried out under fluoroscopic guidance using a single-plane fluoroscopy unit with a C-arm or biplane fluoroscopy. This procedure can also be carried out using computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy; however, most centres reserve this technique for selected difficult cases. The patient is positioned prone on the fluoroscopy table or the gantry of a CT scanner and initial images are acquired to confirm the targeted level. Local anaesthetic is then infiltrated into the skin, subcutaneous tissues and periosteum. Following this, an 11- or 13-gauge needle is passed along the anaesthetised tract and used to penetrate the cortex of the vertebra using a transpedicular, parapedicular or costopedicular approach (Figure 1). Further images are then acquired to help guide needle placement into the anterior quadrant of the targeted vertebral body, ideally as close to the midline as possible (Figure 2). At this stage, bone biopsies can be taken using a coaxial needle if required. Cement is then instilled under close imaging guidance until the anterior two-thirds of the vertebral body is filled and cement is equally distributed on both sides Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Great Bobo, Norman, you do have you fair share of niggles, don't you. Are you sure this one was not caused when an irate husband kicked youn out of his place when catching you in flagrante delecto with his wife/son/ sister/ poodle/ Dyson hoover?Whichever, it sounds a tricky treatment. But if it relieves pain, what have you to lose in trying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I have never heard of this, but if that is what will help, then go for it. Back pain is a terrible thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 [quote user="woolybanana"]Great Bobo, Norman, you do have you fair share of niggles, don't you. Are you sure this one was not caused when an irate husband kicked youn out of his place when catching you in flagrante delecto with his wife/son/ sister/ poodle/ Dyson hoover?Whichever, it sounds a tricky treatment. But if it relieves pain, what have you to lose in trying?[/quote]I see my self as a pioneer for the Forum.The causes include the sort of mechanical injury you describe so colourfully, to which I add falling out of my computer chair as the wheels took it away from me at the speed of light; osteoporosis ( these two being by far the most likely) but just possibly (10%) metastasis.The morale is that when you have had cancer you have to stay on top of all the possibilities as well as explaining to the lady Doctor that the 'coup de reins' needed to transform my young neighbour from jeune fille to jeune femme is still in the gamut of mes pensées... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Good luck with the procedure Norman, if/when you go through it.However, remember that some jobs might be better left to a younger man - there comes a time when true retirement is of the essence![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 I am not sure about the cement, I would much rather see chaux as I have often posted a good mix 2.5:1 with good graded sand [;-)]Good luck with the procedure Norman, metastasis no! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 I believe it is a plastic version [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Though you have improved with age, Normie, I suggest that buccoplasty might still be on the cards. Ask for the complete jog with drinking straw option. I am sure the associated grunts would go down great for the begging.By the way, your verte-job, do they do it often, what is the success rate, side effects, does it, particularly have an effect on the discs or are they removed? Things for you to consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 No they just fill the actual vertebra with a plastic cement under pressure, so that it glues together..It was developed in France at Amiens in the late 80s.It's not as big as it sounds. I should be in and out like a ferret...The two main side effects are if the cement leaks, and if later on adjacent vertebrae are put under strain by the better performance of the repaired one, but for that I would need to be physically active and just trying to stay mentally active is enough for me [:'(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Well, Ni Clous Ni Vis is very effective, I must say, so you should be ok.By the way, do you swim at all or is it not recommended? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 I am not sure that I could get out of the water, and in any case since my last operation I might leak [:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Sorry to hear of your new problems. Best wishes that the treatment goes well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 Thanks...should only be an extended lumbar puncture, but I was curious to know if others had been through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 The procedure to repair my compression fracture of the 12th vertebra went well.They have taken a biopsy at the same time to be absolutely certain that it is not due to a metastasis from the prostate cancer (which is a faint possibility) but the Doctor said that he was pretty sure that there was no problem, as a cancerous bone is soft and bleed easily, whereas mine were firm and hard.I always knew I had a thick skull[blink]He also explained that what they had done was rather like fillings in a tooth. The broken part leaves a hole which was filled and reinforced with a plastic cement, and they have also reinforced the vertebrae on either side.It took about an hour and I was face down on the scanner bench as they have to keep using the scanner to position the needles which inject the substance.The most painful bit was the injections for the anaesthetic, and now the nagging, gnawing tooth-achy pain I have had for the last few months is gone.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 So, beach volley ball with those girlies, then, Norman? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 [quote user="NormanH"] I should be in and out like a ferret...[/quote]Typical chap then, N![6]Glad it went well and that the pain is gone. Result.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 [quote user="woolybanana"]So, beach volley ball with those girlies, then, Norman?[/quote]More like watching them wobble as I sit in the shade sipping a Rosé Pamp.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Glad to hear it went well. Must be lovely to be free of that toothachey pain[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 I had never heard of this before, but I'm glad that it worked. Bon retablissement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Good to hear it was such a success, Norman!Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pommier Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Glad to hear that it went well - and you didn't have too long to wait to have it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 It was amazingly quick. weeks from the MRI scan to all done and dusted, perhaps because if there is anything to treat it needs to be done quickly, but also because all the grand Profs are on holiday and they have left their juniors in charge who are itching to try out the various modern options. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogs Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Glad to hear that things went well Norman, how long will you wait for the biopsy results? Of course let us wish that it is nothing metasis (as a cancer sufferer myself I understand your concerns).I'm intrigued to know whether you have had bone scans which should have shown hotspots so giving them a better indication of whether it was/is mets?Anyway keep recovering well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 I have had a PET scan before, but this time as the damage was clear on the MRI scan they decided that a direct biopsy would give a clearer result. As I said the person taking the sample is very confident that all is OK based on the 'feel' of specimen, and he does this very frequently as I am treated in the local specialist research centre not a General Hospital.There are advantages and disadvantages to this. On the one hand you can have the latest treatments, but on the other hand you can be a 'guinea pig' as their primary focus isn't just curing a disease, but also on testing new ways of dealing with it.I should have the results in 10 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Fingers crossed you get good news then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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