Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures; The Degree of Vertebral Compression and Outcome

Kim, Myoung Soo; Hur, Jin Woo; Lee, Jong Won; Lee, Hyun Koo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to estimate the value of preoperative compression grade of vertebra and to determine the factors which can influence on the clinical results. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiologic data of 118 vertebrae in 70 patients underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed, including the age, sex, bone marrow density score, symptom duration, bone cement filling grade, number of collapsed vertebra, compression grade of vertebra, leakage of bone cement, volume of bone cement injected, vertebroplasty complication, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Pain improvement was obtained immediately in 76 procedures of 83 procedures (91.6%). The immediate post-vertebroplasty pain improvement was higher in the patients with less collapsed vertebra (p=0.051). At long term clinical follow-up (more than 3 months), pain improvement was observed in 54 patients of 59 patients (91.5%). Long term pain improvement was higher in the patients with less collapsed vertebra (p=0.047). CONCLUSION: Vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures provides immediate and long term pain relief in most patients. However, vertebroplasty in patients with more collapsed vertebra results in decreased immediate and late therapeutic effects.