[Interventional pain relief using balloon-kyphoplasty in patients with osteoporotic-based fatigue fractures of the os sacrum].

PURPOSE: In older patients with reduced bone quality, fatigue fractures of the os sacrum are relatively common and are typically accompanied by strong, disabling pain. The aim of our study was to verify the feasibility and safety of sacroplasty using a balloon catheter as well as the reduction of pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 patients were diagnosed with an os sacrum fracture in MRI. As a manifestation of an extant bone reconstruction process, all patients were diagnosed with distinctive edema on the basis of MRI strong T 2-weighted images. CT-controlled balloon sacroplasty was performed in all patients. To allow the cement to be dispensed at a longitudinal angle to the fracture, the balloon catheter is directed through a hollow needle in the os sacrum either from the caudal to the cranial direction or from the craniodorsal to the caudoventral direction. The thus created cavity was then filled with PMMA cement. A control CT and a conventional X-ray in two planes were then carried out. The pain intensity was defined by means of VAS before the intervention, on the second day, and 6 and 12 months after the intervention.

RESULTS: The balloon sacroplasty yielded good technical performance in every patient. The control CT and the X-ray control of the os sacrum showed adequate distribution of the cement, and cement leakage was not detected. Before the operation, the average pain encountered was in accordance with VAS 8.3. On the second postoperative day, a considerable reduction with an average of 2.7 was reported, and this remained stable with an average of 2.5 after 6 and 12 months.

CONCLUSION: Balloon sacroplasty is an effective treatment method for fast pain relief in patients with fatigue fractures of the os sacrum.