Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Mar;68(2):127-136.
doi: 10.3340/jkns.2024.0081. Epub 2025 Jan 23.

Cement-Augmented Pedicle Screw Fixation in Patients with Osteoporosis : Safety, Efficacy and Complications

Tomasz Olbrycht  1 , Kajetan Latka  1 , Waldemar Kolodziej  1 , Tomasz Krzeszowiec  1 , Dariusz Latka  1
Affiliations

Cement-Augmented Pedicle Screw Fixation in Patients with Osteoporosis : Safety, Efficacy and Complications

Tomasz Olbrycht et al. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation is a widely accepted method for managing osteoporotic fractures, but it carries inherent risks, particularly related to cement leakage and embolism. This study aimed to analyze a clinical case of complications following cement fixation and provide a detailed review of relevant literature. A 70-year-old patient underwent transpedicular screw instrumentation from L2-L4 with polymethyl methacrylate augmentation, which resulted in cement leakage into the spinal canal and subsequent pulmonary embolism. After revision surgery and conservative treatment for the embolism, the patient's condition stabilized, demonstrating that conservative measures can be effective in managing cement embolism. To complement this case, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore the causes, prevention, and treatment of complications related to cement augmentation. The findings support that while cement-augmented pedicle screw instrumentation remains a leading technique for osteoporotic fractures, the associated risks are manageable with proper treatment protocols. This study holds practical significance for healthcare professionals by highlighting both the risks and solutions associated with cement fixation, thus contributing to improved patient outcomes and the development of standardized treatment guidelines.

Keywords: Bone screws; Cementation; Internal fixators; Osteoporotic fractures; Spinal fusion; Spinal injuries.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Computed tomography scan showing the outflow of cement into the spinal canal on the left side (arrow).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Intraoperative photo showing cement attached to the dural sac.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Intraoperative photo showing a gently separation of the cement from the surface of the dural sac.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Intraoperative photo showing the separation of the cement from the dural sac.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Intraoperative photo showing the dural sac, after a successful cement separation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Arana-Guajardo AC, Cavazos-Aranda AL. Asymptomatic pulmonary embolism secondary to cement leakage after vertebroplasty. Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed) 2021;17:302–303. - PubMed
    1. Aydogan M, Ozturk C, Karatoprak O, Tezer M, Aksu N, Hamzaoglu A. The pedicle screw fixation with vertebroplasty augmentation in the surgical treatment of the severe osteoporotic spines. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2009;22:444–447. - PubMed
    1. Barańska A, Religioni U, Kłak A, Merks P, Bogdan M, Firlej E, et al. Coping strategies preferred by patients treated for osteoporosis and analysis of the difficulties resulting from the disease. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19:5677. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bassawon R, Sirajuddin S, Martucci G, Shum-Tim D. Snare or scalpel: challenges of intracardiac cement embolism retrieval. Ann Thorac Surg. 2022;113:e107–e110. - PubMed
    1. Boell SK, Cecez-Kecmanovic D. Willcocks LP, Sauer C, Lacity MC. Formulating Research Methods for Information Systems. London: Palgrave Macmillan; 2015. On being “systematic” in literature reviews; pp. 48–78.

LinkOut - more resources