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Mary E Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to Mary E Jensen.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Vertebral compression fractures: pain reduction and improvement in functional mobility after percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate vertebroplasty retrospective report of 245 cases.

PURPOSE: To describe the immediate outcome of a large cohort of patients who underwent percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) vertebroplasty for treatment of one or more vertebral fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included seven university-based and private hospitals in the United States. Of 488 consecutive patients (mean age, 76 years) who underwent percutaneous PMMA vertebroplasty between 1996 and 1999, 245 were successfully interviewed retrospectively after vertebroplasty (median time, 7 months). Through telephone interview, patients completed our self-developed questionnaire designed to measure pain (10-point scale), ambulation (five-point scale), and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) (five-point scale) before and after vertebroplasty. Differences in reported pain, ambulation, and ability to perform ADL before and after vertebroplasty were evaluated with paired t tests. Differences in proportions were compared with the McNemar test. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the consistency of differences in pre- and postprocedural pain and functional status by patient age, number of fractures, time from fracture to vertebroplasty, and time from vertebroplasty to questionnaire completion. RESULTS: On a 10-point scale, mean pain decreased from 8.9 before vertebroplasty to 3.4 afterward (P <.001). Seventy-two percent of patients had substantially impaired ambulation before vertebroplasty compared with 28% afterward (P <.001). Ability to perform ADL was also significantly improved following vertebroplasty (P <.001). Twelve patients (4.9%) experienced symptomatic complications (none major or life threatening). CONCLUSION: Treatment of vertebral fractures with percutaneous PMMA vertebroplasty appears to be safe and results in substantial immediate pain reduction and improved functional status. A randomized controlled trial appears warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Percutaneous vertebroplasty.

This review, aimed at current practitioners of vertebroplasty, highlights recent changes in patient work-up and procedural techniques that have streamlined the authors' clinical practice. Preprocedural work-up, including history, physical examination, and adjunctive imaging techniques, are discussed. Technical details are reviewed, including types of equipment, techniques of needle placement, and utility of venography. Postprocedural issues are noted, including risk of subsequent fracture after vertebroplasty, long-term outcome of cement in the vertebral body, and utility of prophylactic vertebroplasty. Finally, the current state of evidence in support of the efficacy of vertebroplasty are discussed, with particular attention to the need for ongoing clinical trials.

Bone Cements↗

Lack of preoperative spinous process tenderness does not affect clinical success of percutaneous vertebroplasty.

PURPOSE: Some operators use the lack of point tenderness over compression fractures to exclude patients from undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this lack of tenderness portends a poorer clinical outcome after vertebroplasty than is achieved in patients with such tenderness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of consecutive percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures performed at their institution to define two populations. Group 1 included 90 patients with tenderness to palpation over the spinous process of the fractured vertebra, whereas group 2 included 10 patients without such tenderness. This second group presented with back pain and demonstrated tenderness distant from the fracture (n = 5), tenderness lateral to the fracture (n = 4), or no focal tenderness at all (n = 1). All were treated because of edema seen on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and/or increased activity on bone scan. Clinical outcomes were assessed by quantitative measurements of pre- and postoperative levels of pain (11-point scale) and mobility (five-point scale). RESULTS: Pain improvement of three points or greater occurred in 77 of the 85 patients (91%) in group 1 who complied with follow-up and nine of nine such patients (100%) in group 2, with mean postoperative pain levels of 1.82 and 0.33 points, respectively (P =.14). Forty of 45 patients (89%) in group 1 with impaired preoperative mobility reported improvement postoperatively, as did two of three such patients (67%) in group 2. Mean levels of postoperative impaired mobility for groups 1 and 2 were 0.27 and 0.67 points, respectively (P =.27). CONCLUSION: Pain on palpation over the fractured vertebra is not a necessary requirement in selecting patients who will benefit from percutaneous vertebroplasty. Other factors, such as MR evidence of edema or increased uptake on bone scan, should be weighed considerably in the decision to treat a patient.

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Unilateral transpedicular percutaneous vertebroplasty: initial experience.

PURPOSE: To compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes of a unipediculate approach with those of standard bipediculate vertebroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of percutaneous vertebroplasties yielded 18 vertebrae in 17 patients that were treated with a standard bipediculate approach and 57 vertebrae in 32 patients that were treated with a modified unipediculate approach. Anteroposterior radiographs obtained after the procedure were viewed to calculate the percentage of cement opacification in both vertebral halves, and mean values were compared between uni- and bipediculate approaches by using a two-tailed Student t test. Clinical outcomes, including pain relief and change in pain medication requirements, were compared in the two groups by using the chi(2) or Fisher exact test. RESULTS: With the unipediculate approach, filling across the midline was achieved in 55 (96%) of 57 injections. Mean opacification of vertebral body halves was 83% +/- 19 (SD) and 77% +/- 16 for the bipediculate and unipediculate approaches, respectively (P =.19). Among patients with available follow-up data, 16 (94%) of 17 patients who underwent the bipediculate procedure and 28 (88%) of 32 patients who underwent the unipediculate procedure achieved adequate pain relief (P =.65) with mean decreases in pain severity of 7.3 +/- 3.1 and 6.6 +/- 2.9, respectively. CONCLUSION: Use of a unipediculate approach in percutaneous vertebroplasty allows filling of both vertebral halves from a single puncture site with no statistically significant difference in clinical outcome from that of bipediculate vertebroplasty.

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Relevance of antecedent venography in percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Controversy exists regarding the utility of antecedent venography in percutaneous vertebroplasty. Our purpose was to determine whether antecedent venography improves clinical outcomes and/or decreases extravertebral cement extravasation in these procedures. METHODS: We retrospective reviewed outcomes of consecutive percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures performed at our institution to define two populations, each consisting of 24 patients treated at 42 vertebral levels. Group 1 included patients who underwent antecedent venography, and group 2 included patients treated without venography. Clinical outcomes were assessed with quantitative measurements of pain and mobility. Venograms and postprocedural radiographs were interpreted to evaluate the number of vertebrae with extravertebral cement extravasation, degree of extravasation at each level, and correlation between venography and vertebroplasty. RESULTS: Pain improved in 19 of 20 group 1 patients, compared with 21 of 22 group 2 patients; mean postoperative pain levels were 1.3 and 1.8, respectively (P =.50), on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). All 11 group 1 patients with impaired preoperative mobility reported postoperative improvement, as did all 12 group 2 patients; mean levels of postoperative impaired mobility for groups 1 and 2 were 0.35 and 0.27, respectively (P =.43). Twenty-two of 42 vertebrae treated in group 1 demonstrated extravasation, compared with 28 of 42 in group 2 (P =.266); amounts of extravasation did not differ. Among 22 levels of extravasation in group 1, venograms in 14 showed correlative extravasation. CONCLUSION: Antecedent venography does not significantly improve the effectiveness or safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty performed by qualified, experienced operators.

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Cardiovascular effects of polymethylmethacrylate use in percutaneous vertebroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous investigators have described an association between polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) use in hip arthroplasty and cardiovascular derangement. Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of PMMA injection on patient vital signs during percutaneous vertebroplasty. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patient charts at our institution to gather blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial oxygen saturation data for the following time points: before, during, 5 minutes after, and 10 minutes after PMMA injection during percutaneous vertebroplasty. These data were obtained for 142 injections (78 patients), and preinjection vital signs were compared with vital signs during and after PMMA injection. Multivariable regression modeling was used to ascertain the effects of cardiopulmonary comorbidities on vital signs. RESULTS: Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate during, 5 minutes after, and 10 minutes after PMMA injection were not significantly different from their respective preprocedure values (P =.19-.92). Values for oxygen saturation during PMMA injection and 5 minutes thereafter were not significantly different from preprocedure values (P =.80 and.89, respectively). Oxygen saturation was significantly lower at 10 minutes after injection than before injection (P =.007), although the mean difference was negligible (0.6%). CONCLUSION: We find no generalized association between PMMA injection during percutaneous vertebroplasty and systemic cardiovascular derangement.

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Vertebroplasty in the mid- and upper thoracic spine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vertebroplasty performed in the mid- and upper thoracic spine presents technical challenges that differ from those in the lower thoracic and lumbar region. We herein report results of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment of painful, osteoporotic compression fractures in the mid- and upper thoracic spine. METHODS: Retrospective chart review identified vertebroplasty treatments performed for painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T4-T8. The following were catalogued: percentage of vertebral body compression, needle size, surgical approach, clinical outcome, volume of cement injected, and complications. RESULTS: Sixty-three vertebral bodies were treated in 41 patients. Mean percentage of compression was 44%. Bipediculate injections were used in 12 (19%) of 63 treatment levels, and unipediculate injections were used in 51 (81%) of treatments (75 injections performed). Eleven-gauge needles were used for 55 (73%) of the 75 injections, and 13-gauge needles were used for 20 (27%). Clinical follow-up was available for 76% of the patients. Mean pre- and postoperative pain intensity was 9.7 +/- 1.0 and 1.7 +/- 1.9, respectively (P <.0001). Mean pre- and postoperative medication scores were 3.4 +/- 0.7 and 1.7 +/- 1.7, respectively (P =.075). Fracture involving the pedicle used for needle access was noted in one (1.3%) of 75 injections; this pedicle had been traversed using a 13-gauge needle. Staphylococcus epidermidis infection occurred in one case. No cases of pneumothorax were noted. CONCLUSION: Transpedicular vertebroplasty is readily and safely performed using 11-gauge needles in the mid- and upper thoracic regions, yielding excellent pain relief and low complication rates.

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Thrombus formation at the neck of cerebral aneurysms during treatment with Guglielmi detachable coils.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thromboembolic events are a common source of complications during Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Thrombus formation at the coil-parent artery interface is not commonly reported but is an important potential source of emboli. We describe nine cases in which thrombus propagated from GDCs into the parent artery during coil therapy of cerebral aneurysms and subsequent treatment of the thrombus. METHODS: A retrospective review of a procedural database was performed to identify cases in which thrombus occurred during GDC treatment of cerebral aneurysms during a 30-month period. All images were reviewed at the time of the procedure. Nine cases of thrombus forming at the coil-parent artery interface and five cases of distal emboli were identified among 210 cases. All patients underwent anticoagulation with heparin during GDC treatment procedures. RESULTS: Thrombus was identified at the coil-parent artery interface during GDC treatment in nine (4.3%) of 210 cases. In each case, the thrombus was recognized before distal embolic complication occurred and was successfully treated with heparin alone (five patients) or with heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitor (four patients). CONCLUSION: Potential clinical complications can be avoided by early recognition of thrombus at the coil-parent artery interface and by administering appropriate medical therapy.

Abciximab↗

Percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of malignant spine disease.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive, radiologically-guided interventional procedure originally developed in France for the treatment of painful vertebral hemangiomas. The technique consists of the percutaneous puncture of the affected vertebral body, followed by injection of an acrylic polymer to provide bone augmentation and prevent further collapse. The internal "casting" of the trabecular microfractures results in pain relief and vertebral consolidation. Vertebroplasty was quickly adopted for use in metastatic vertebral lesions and hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma. The major experience with malignant disease has remained primarily in the European realm; in the United States vertebroplasty is used mainly for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures. The reasons underlying this divergence in practice experiences remains unclear, although the explosion of vertebroplasty in the U.S. appears to be driven by an assertive, motivated and well-informed elderly population. In addition, malignant lesions are often challenging and practitioners may shy away from these clinically and technically more difficult patients. The purpose of this article is to introduce the principles of percutaneous vertebroplasty to the North American oncologic community with the hope that it mayfind a greater role in the treatmentof malignant disease affecting the spine.

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The therapeutic benefit of repeat percutaneous vertebroplasty at previously treated vertebral levels.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recurrent pain after vertebroplasty is relatively common, usually representing a new fracture at a different vertebral level. In a small cohort described herein, clinical and imaging findings indicated that recurrent pain arose from abnormality of the previously treated level. Our purpose was to demonstrate that repeat percutaneous vertebroplasty performed within the same fractured vertebra can offer therapeutic benefit for patients with recurrent pain after initial treatment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive vertebroplasty procedures performed at our institution to define a patient population that underwent repeat vertebroplasty for recurrent pain at previously treated vertebral levels. We identified six such patients over an 8-year period, and clinical outcomes were assessed through quantitative measurements of pre- and postoperative levels of pain and mobility. RESULTS: Initial vertebroplasty resulted in substantial improvement in pain in all six patients. Patients developed recurrent pain between 8 days and 167 days after initial vertebroplasty. After repeat vertebroplasty, five of the six patients reported a reduction of at least 3 points in their rating of pain, with a mean reduction of 6.5 points and a mean postoperative pain level of 3.5 points (11-point scale). Four of six patients reported impaired mobility before repeat vertebroplasty, and all four demonstrated a postoperative improvement in mobility. Mean increase in mobility was 1.50 points, and the mean postoperative mobility impairment was 0.25 points (5-point scale). CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of the patients within this case series suggest that repeat percutaneous vertebroplasty performed at previously treated vertebral levels for recurrent pain offer therapeutic benefit.

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Radiation dose to the operator during vertebroplasty: prospective comparison of the use of 1-cc syringes versus an injection device.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures require relatively long durations of fluoroscopic guidance, which might lead to substantial radiation dose to operators. Specialized injection devices have been proposed to limit operator exposure. Our purpose was to compare the radiation dose to the operator's hands during vertebroplasty when using 1-cc syringes versus that when using an injection device. METHODS: Radiation dosimeters were worn on the left wrist during 39 vertebroplasty injection procedures in 25 patients. Cases were alternated between the use of 1-cc syringes (19 procedures) and the use of an injection device (20 procedures). For each procedure, one dosimeter was worn throughout the procedure, both during needle placement and injection, and a second dosimeter was worn during the injection phase only. Mean doses for the whole case and mean doses for the injection procedure alone were compared between groups. RESULTS: Mean whole case dose was 128 +/- 161 mrem (range, 0-660 mrem) for the 1-cc syringe group versus 98 +/- 90 mrem (range, 0-340 mrem) for the injection device group (P =.23). Mean dose during injection was 100 +/- 145 mrem (range, 0-660 mrem) for the 1-cc syringe group versus 55 +/- 43 mrem (range, 0-130 mrem) for the injection device group (P =.09). Three of 19 1-cc syringe cases yielded zero dose, compared with four of 20 injection device cases. Duration of injection was markedly different between groups, with mean injection times of 4.2 and 7.5 min for 1-cc syringe and injection device cases, respectively (P <.00002). Mean injection dose per minute of lateral fluoroscopy was 23.6 and 7.3 mrem for the 1-cc syringe and injection device groups, respectively (P =.002). CONCLUSION: The use of an injection device significantly decreased the radiation dose to the operator's extremity per unit time of injection. However, total dose per injection was equivalent between groups because of significantly longer injection duration for the injection device cohort.

Bone Cements↗