ObjectiveTo analyze the incidence of and prevention strategies for bone cement leakage after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or kyphoplasty (PKP) for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. MethodsA retrospective analysis was carried out on the clinical data of 178 patients who had 268 thoracolumbar osteoporotic compressions and underwent PVP or PKP from January 2010 to January 2013 in our hospital. We analyzed the causes of and prevention strategies for bone cement leakage. The therapeutic effect was observed after operation. We summarized the causes and prevention strategies for the bone cement leakage. ResultsStatistics showed that 51 vertebrae (19.0%) had bone cement leakage, including 31 vertebrae (29.2%) after PVP and 20 vertebrae (12.3%) after PKP. All patients had back pain relief after operation. One patient with bone cement leakage had the nerve root injured, which was relieved by decompression. Other patients had no reaction. ConclusionThe causes of cement leakage were related to the patients' own factors, but were more related to the operations. Adequate preparation before operation, correct surgical technology during operation, taking necessary precautions and X-ray monitoring are the key to the prevention of cement leakage.