OBJECTIVETo explore incidence rate, influencing factors, leakage routes,and preventative measures of bone cement leakages in vertebral internal reinforcement operation including percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous kyphoplasty.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to January 2012,94 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture,vertebral metastases and vertebral hemangioma were treated by vertebral internal reinforcement operation. Among them, there were 39 males and 55 females aged 55 to 86 with an average of 69.4 years old. The reasons, types, incidence and complications of bone cement leakage were analyzed.

RESULTSTotally 21 patients (26 vertebral) occurred bone cement leakage, the main routes included basivertebral veins, and bone cortex, which mainly located on adjacent intervertebrae and around vertebral body, and most of them were asymptomatic leakage. For the treatment of OVCFs, incidence of bone cement leakage in PKP was lower than that of PVP (P < 0.05), while incidince of PVP in treating vertebral metastases was worse than in treating OVCFs (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBone cement leakage is a common complication in PVP and PKP. Careful analysis before operation, cautiously monitors and grasp operation indication in operation can decrease incidence of it.