Abstract
Multiple strategies exist for the management of thoracolumbar burst fractures. Particularly in osteoporotic bone and elderly patients, minimally invasive techniques for stabilization are desirable. PMMA has been used to enhance structural support during spinal stabilization as well as for percutaneous vertebroplasty. As an inert substance, PMMA is associated with an exothermic reaction making it less than ideal for use in close proximity to neural elements. As an alternative we are studying HAC vs. PMMA. HAC has the advantages of being osteoconductive, biocompatible, and non-exothermic. The purpose of the current study was to test the early stabilizing effect of HAC as compared to PMMA using an experimentally produced burst fracture and a subsequent percutaneous vertebroplasty for stabilization.
