Percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed for the first time in the Clinical Centre Banja Luka

 A surgical procedure – percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed for the first time in the Clinic of Traumatology of the Clinical Centre Banja Luka. Physicians of the Clinical Centre Banja Luka continuously acquire professional competence for introducing the new methods for treatment of patients. After education in this field which was organized by the Clinical Centre Banja Luka and performed by physicians of the Clinic of Traumatology in Salzburg, Austria, another surgical procedure was successfully performed.

The surgical team was composed of Nikola Bojić, M.Sc., MD, Zoran Bjelogrlić M.Sc., MD, Milorad Maran MD, Haris Vehabović MD, Ljubiša Tomić MD, Sanja Jeličić MD, surgical technicians Raca Mira, Tomašević Goran and Lukić Dijana. Compression fractures of vertebral bodies occur as a consequence of weakening of their structures i.e. due to a loss of bone tissue which results in decreased firmness. The most frequent cause of these alterations is osteoporosis. These vertebral body fractures are the first clinical signs of osteoporosis. If vertebral bodies are covered with metastases of malignant tumours or with benign tumours of blood vessels, it leads to the destruction of bone tissue. In altered conditions such as these, it is possible that so called compression fracture of vertebral body occurs during minimum traumas such as movements, abrupt sitting down or minor falls. Occurrence of fracture is accompanied with pain which intensifies during sitting, walking or performing everyday activities. Principle of performing of this minimally invasive procedure is that, under radioscopic control, collapsed vertebral body is punctuated with needle through which a special type of two-component cement is injected. After injecting, cement is hardened and cement-bone block with fragments of fractured vertebral body is created, which leads to reducing or cessation of pain. After these surgical procedures, postoperative recovery is faster and a patient is able to walk after being woken up. The surgical procedure lasts 15-30 minutes. In future, the Clinical Centre Banjaluka will continue to invest in education of the staff, in order for them to be absolutely skilled in performing the new methods of treatments of our patients.