A group of leading myeloma specialists, known as the International Myeloma Working Group, recently collaborated to develop guidelines for the proper management of bone disease in multiple myeloma. The group recommended that patients with bone disease should be treated with standard dosages of intravenous bisphosphonates. A minimally invasive procedure called kyphoplasty may also be considered to reduce bone pain and improve functional ability.

Dr. David Roodman of the University of Pittsburgh presented these findings at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) on May 6 in Paris.

Most multiple myeloma patients develop…

A group of Italian researchers found that vertebroplasty provides durable pain relief for multiple myeloma patients with spinal compression fractures. In addition, the procedure reduced the patients’ need for pain-relieving medications and back braces.

At least 70 percent of multiple myeloma patients suffer from bone disease, which is characterized by bone pain, fractures, and elevated calcium levels.  Patients frequently experience compression fractures in the spine, which may cause back pain, partial paralysis of limbs, decreased sensation, and poor urinary control.

Researchers are currently evaluating the success of treating spinal compression…

ArthroCare Corp. has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its Parallax Contour Vertebral Augmentation Device. The Contour device can now be used during minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat spinal fractures caused by multiple myeloma bone lesions.

Weakening of the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine, can result in vertebral compression fractures. Though the most common cause of vertebral compression fractures is osteoporosis, they may also be caused by multiple myeloma tumors.

Patients with vertebral compression fractures often suffer from debilitating pain and…

A recent study published in the journal Neurological Sciences determined that injecting bone cement into fracture sites in the spine, a procedure called vertebroplasty, leads to fast pain relief and restored mobility in multiple myeloma patients.

Myeloma cells accelerate processes that degrade bone, resulting in bone lesions and fractures. Spinal fractures, in particular, are a common complication associated with multiple myeloma and can leave patients unable to walk. Treatment options include radiation therapy, medication, and a minimally invasive procedure called vertebroplasty (for further description, see related Beacon article).

In…

The potential benefits of vesselplasty for the treatment of spinal fractures are highlighted in a recent study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.  Patients treated with vesselplasty, including some with multiple myeloma, experienced significant reductions in pain, immobility, and the use of painkillers.

Spinal fractures, also known as collapsed vertebrae or vertebral compression fractures, can develop in multiple myeloma patients who suffer from bone weakening.

Vesselplasty is a minimally invasive, image-guided surgical procedure that has emerged as an alternative to the conventional treatments of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.  A…