[Modified percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty at osteolysis of 11th thoracic vertebra and communication with the spinal canal. Case report and review of the literature].

This paper presents the case report of a 67-year-old man who came to our hospital suffering from severe osteolysis of the 11th thoracic vertebral body. The patient has been suffering from renal cell carcinoma for 2 years. During a routine control the above-mentioned lesion was found by chance. A few days later pain started in the thoracolumbar region. Treatment was intended to be palliative. Therefore, we looked for an option to stabilize the vertebral body as minimally invasive as possible. Because of a destroyed trailing edge of the vertebra, "normal" kyphoplasty was not possible. For this reason, we performed a modification, using one filled balloon as a kind of curtain between the vertebral body and spinal canal. With this technique we achieved an optimal filling of the destroyed vertebral body with cement, without any leakage. Two days postoperatively, the patient could leave our hospital without any pain symptoms.