PMID: 3771596Oct 1, 1986Paper

Failure of stabilization of the spine with methylmethacrylate. A retrospective analysis of twenty-four cases

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume
P C McAfeeF J Eismont

Abstract

Twenty-four patients who had a major complication after attempted stabilization of the spine with methylmethacrylate were referred for treatment. The initial instability that necessitated stabilization was caused by a traumatic condition in fifteen of these patients and by a metastatic tumor in nine. The average length of time before failure of fixation was 208.3 days for the patients who had a traumatic condition and 193.7 days for those who had a neoplasm. In eleven patients a progressive neural deficit developed postoperatively, and in six others the recovery of neural function was possibly hindered by the cement. A deep wound infection developed in six patients, and in five of them treatment by removal of the methylmethacrylate and metal, followed by a prolonged period of cervical traction, was required. Loosening and failure of fixation was the most common complication--it occurred in twelve of the fifteen patients who had a traumatic lesion and in eight of the nine who had a neoplasm. Salvage operations that included removal of the cement and conventional bone-grafting procedures were performed in eleven of the twelve patients who had loosening associated with a traumatic lesion and in six of the eight who had loosening a...Continue Reading

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