Aim: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective minimally invasive procedure used in the treatment of pain associated with compression fractures. In this study, a patient with Cauda Equina syndrome developed following percutaneous vertebroplasty procedure is presented.

Case: A seventy-two-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic with widespread lower back pain. The medical history revealed that she had been operated for lumbar spinal stenosis nearly 2 years ago. Lumbar spinal MRI and CT examinations of the patient showed osteoporotic compression fracture on L1, then percutaneous vertebroplasty operation was performed. The postoperative lumbar spinal computed tomography of the patient displayed Cauda Equina syndrome which was demonstrated with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) leakage into the anterior epidural space. She underwent L1 total laminectomy.

Conclusion: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective treatment procedure in osteoporotic compression fractures. Although PMM leak is a common occurrence following PVP, this condition is generally ignored for it rarely manifests clinical signs. But the above mentioned case suggests that early imaging should be performed and demonstration of PMMA leakage or presence of neurologic deficits following PVP indicate early surgical intervention.

Keywords: Cauda Equina syndrome, complication, percutaneous vertebroplasty