Korean J Neurotrauma.  2016 Apr;12(1):18-21. 10.13004/kjnt.2016.12.1.18.

Gradual Height Decrease of Augmented Vertebrae after Vertebroplasty at the Thoracolumbar Junction

• Oh HS
• Kim TW
• Kim HG
• Park KH

• KMID: 2163010
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13004/kjnt.2016.12.1.18

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Vertebroplasty is an effective treatment for vertebral compression fracture, but may progress gradual vertebral height decrease in spite of vertebroplasty. Gradual vertebral height decrease also may induce aggravation of kyphotic change without severe pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors for gradual vertebral height decrease in the absence of recurrent severe back pain.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed on 44 patients who were diagnosed with a first osteoporotic compression fracture at a single level at the thoracolumbar junction. All patients were taken vertebroplasty. Possible risk factors for gradual vertebral height decrease, such as sex, age, bone mineral density, body mass index, level of compression fracture, volume of injected cement, cement leakage into disc space, and air clefts within fractured vertebrae, were analyzed.
RESULTS
Gradual vertebral height decrease of augmented vertebrae occurred commonly when more than 4 cc of injected cement was used, and when air clefts within fractured vertebrae were seen on admission. In addition, the sagittal Cobb angle more commonly increased during the follow-up period in such cases.
CONCLUSION
Injection of more than 4 cc of cement during vertebroplasty and air cleft within fractured vertebrae on admission induced gradual vertebral height decrease in augmented vertebrae. Thus, longer follow-up will be needed in such cases, even when patients do not complain of recurrent severe back pain.

Keyword

Fractures, compression; Vertebroplasty; Cement volume; Kyphosis

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Body Mass Index
Bone Density
Follow-Up Studies
Fractures, Compression
Humans
Kyphosis
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Spine*
Vertebroplasty*

Figure

• 

  FIGURE 1 Plain radiography (A) showing an air cleft (arrow) and spine computed tomography(B) showing air collection within the fractured vertebrae.

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