ABSTRACT
Objective To estimate the clinical value of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP)performed on the elderly patients aged 80 years and over with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.Methods Since January 2000, 19 patients aged 80 years and over were treated with PVP, and 17 patients from 60 to 79 years old underwent percutancous kyphoplasty (PKP). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was tested preoperatively and 1 to 7 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after operation. The time of radiation, volume of bone cement injection and hospital charges were compared betwecn two procedures. Results Over the 2-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in analgesia effects between thc two groups (P＞0.05). The radiation time of PVP and PKP was (107±37)s and (151±76)s respectively (t=2.24, P＜0.05). The hospital charges of PVP and PKP were ￥(16 124±5850) and ￥(34 265±6655) respectively (t=9.26,P＜0.01). Conclusions PVP is better than PKP for treating osteoporotic compression fractures in the elderly patients over 80 years, because of the former's simplicity and efficiency.