Percutaneous vertebroplasty: a special syringe for cement injection

Abstract

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective treatment for many focal vertebral lesions. Methyl methacrylate is too viscous to be handled without difficulty in the conventional way because injection time is short. The operator is left with little time and must fumble with multiple syringes. We describe a special screw-system syringe that decreases the effort needed to inject the cement. In addition, it can standardize the injection pressures and control the injected volume because the threaded plunger affords greater control of injection pressure and volume delivered than does the conventional method.

fig 1. Material used in vertebroplasty. 1, special screw system syringe (A, handle; B, luer-lock end; C, lateral port; D, screw plunger); 2, high-pressure plastic tubing; 3, 10-mL syringe; 4, 14-gauge needle; 5, short stylet; 6, long stylet; 7, container in which to mix cement; 8, spoon

fig 2. Special screw system syringe connected to the 10-mL syringe. A, Before loading, the cement within the conventional syringe that is connected to the lateral port (thin arrow) can be seen. Notice the screw system plunger (thick arrow). B, After loading, the cement within the special screw system syringe (asterisks), can be seen. The empty conventional syringe is still placed in the lateral port.

fig 3. Plastic tubing (thin arrow) and needle (crossed arrow) are connected to the syringe. As the screw plunger (thick arrow) is turned, the cement is advanced into the plastic tubing and then into the needle. The lateral port (short arrow) is excluded from the syringe chamber as the plunger advances. One hand holds the syringe by the handle, and the other turns the screw plunger