During the thoracic vertebral augmentation, what was the outcome of the left-sided attempt before proceeding to the right side?

• A. It was successful and completed
• B. It was abandoned because position could not be achieved
• C. It caused intraoperative complication
• D. It was used to create a contralateral cavity

Answer: (B)

In bilateral thoracic vertebral augmentation, you often try one side first to establish the proper needle trajectory and position. If that side cannot be brought to the necessary position or stable alignment, the prudent move is to abandon that attempt rather than forcing a risky placement. This prevents malposition, nerve irritation, or cement leakage, and it allows you to switch to the other side where a safe trajectory might be achievable.

So the left-sided attempt being abandoned because position could not be achieved fits with safe practice. It means the team paused that side rather than continuing with a suboptimal or dangerous placement, then proceeded to address the right side. The other options don’t align with the described sequence: a completed left-side effort would imply finishing that side, a complication would be specifically noted, and creating a contralateral cavity isn’t the described outcome.