[Value of routine transpedicular biopsies in kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures : A survey among 250 spine surgeons].

Nearly one third of the spine surgeons surveyed regularly perform a transpedicular biopsy with each kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. Almost all respondents perform biopsies at least when there is an imaging morphologic suspicion of tumor disease or tumor disease is known or suspected based on risk factors. Future studies need to further clarify the cost-effectiveness of transpedicular biopsy.