ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) have been shown to obtain satisfactory clinical efficacy in the treatment of spinal sandwich fracture compared with conventional conservative method, but a further investigation on the related biomechanical characteristics is required. OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanics characteristics of PVP and PKP for spinal sandwich fracture. METHODS: The finite element models of PVP and PKP were constructed based on the finite element model of spinal sandwich fracture. The deformation and stress distribution characteristics were analyzed after loaded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After PVP for L1, T11sandwich fracture, the stiffness at the thoracic and lumbar segments, the maximum stress and deformation at the sandwich vertebrae showed no obvious improvement, and the stress concentration at the anterior column of sandwich vertebrae was not improved significantly (from 26.12 Mpa to 23.37 Mpa, reduced by 10.53%). Meanwhile, PKP significantly increased the stiffness at the thoracic and lumbar segments, the maximum stress and deformation of the sandwich vertebrae were significantly decreased (from 27.15 Mpa to 17.52 Mpa, reduced by 36.71%).