Kyphoplasty: a new opportunity for rehabilitation of neurologic disabilities

Using percutaneous kyphoplasty, we treated a patient with a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome who complained of an unremitting pain in the spine, refractory to the conventional medical therapy, elicited by pressure over the spinous process, and in absence of neurologic deficits. The method provided swift midline back pain relief associated with an evident augmentation in the stability and in the vertebral body's height. The injection of polymethylmethacrylate was effective and safe, no cement leakages were observed, and no complications such as pulmonary embolism, toxicity, or infection were observed. Due to the rapid pain relief, a rehabilitation program was promptly undertaken with a good improvement of the disability score (FIM scale score). Kyphoplasty is a new method for treatment of vertebral collapses consequent to osteoporosis, aggressive hemangiomas, myelomas, and metastases, and it may aid in rehabilitation of the underlying systemic neurologic disorder if the pain is interfering with those therapies.