The importance of percutaneous vertebroplasty and radiation therapy for pathological vertebral compression fractures secondary to multiple myeloma

摘要

It is with great interest that we read the article by Chen et al. "Percutaneous vertebroplasty for pathological vertebral compression fractures secondary to multiple myeloma", published in the 2012 June issue of Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. This is a thoughtful and well-designed retrospective article which evaluated the safety and complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty in the vertebral compression fractures resulting from multiple myeloma. The authors conclude that vertebroplasty remains the best option for pain relief and is effective in increasing the quality of life. They corroborate that radiation therapy needs to be performed in conjunction with vertebroplasty for malignant spinal disease, because cement injection alone does not prevent tumor growth. The article also suggested that vertebroplasty should be performed before radiation therapy, because the analgesic effects of the former are immediate and spinal stability is addressed. The viewpoint of the author is right, but we have some disagreement and a few points need to be discussed with more detail.