Intrathecal injection of contrast medium to prevent polymethylmethacrylate leakage during percutaneous vertebroplasty.

The major technical drawback of percutaneous vertebroplasty is the potential for neural compromise from leakage of polymethylmethaorylate into epidural or perivertebral veins. We have combined the procedure of intrathecal injection of contrast medium with vertebroplasty to better delineate spinal canal encroachment during injection when the posterior vertebral wall is compromised by myeloma.