Avoiding complications in percutaneous osteoplasty

Percutaneous osteoplasty techniques include cement injection either solely performed or in combination to hardware such as cannulated screws, peek implants or other metallic hardware including micro-needles and Kirschner wires. Depending on bone and local forces applied, fracture and osseous defect characteristics as well as symptoms and operator's preference percutaneous osteoplasty techniques include cementoplasty, fixation by internal cemented screw and augmented osteoplasty. Literature data support efficacy and safety of these techniques, focusing mainly on the minimal invasive nature of these approaches along with minimum overall morbidity and mortality and an impressive pain reduction effect. Percutaneous osteoplasty techniques in the peripheral skeleton are indicated for pain palliation or for prevention of impeding pathologic fractures. Although safe, osteoplasty techniques are not without risk of complications and adverse events. Complications are classified based either upon clinical impact or timing of occurrence; complications’ reviewing and grading should be performed on terms of a uniform and accurate reproducible and validated categorization system. Significant factors for avoiding complications in percutaneous osteoplasty techniques include proper training, patient- and lesion-tailored approach, high-quality imaging guidance, sterility as well as appropriate selection of technique and materials. The present article reports the possible complications of percutaneous osteoplasty techniques and reviews the prerequisites necessary for avoiding and managing these adverse events.