Transdiscal Cement Leakage During Vertebroplasty

Bone cement leakage is a major cause of surgical complications during percutaneous vertebroplasty. A 78-year-old woman experienced transdiscal cement leakage during vertebroplasty for painful compression fractures of thoracic vertebrae 9 and 10 (T9 and T10). During surgery, bone cement leaked from T9 to T10, passing through the right anterior intervertebral disc space. We have had no prior experience with this complication and, to our knowledge, there are no similar cases in the literature. Nevertheless, the patient's back pain was relieved to a considerable degree. Related imaging findings and possible reasons for leakage are discussed.