A Comparison of Vertebroplasty Versus Conservative Treatment in Osteoporotic Compression Fractures

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare clinical and radiological results between vertebroplasty and conservative treatment in osteoporotic compression fractures of thoracolumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 34 patients were reviewed with at least 1 year follow up. Vertebroplasty was used in 14 and conservative treatment was done in 20 fractures. These groups were compared by clinical results which were evaluated by the scoring system according to pain, mobility and analgesic usage at preoperative, postoperative 1 month and postoperative 1 year. And also compared by the increment of kyphosis and loss of vertebral body height in lateral films at the same time. We compared duration of hospitalization between two groups. RESULTS: Vertebroplasty group showed statistically significant less pain and mobility than conservative treatment (p<0.05), but there was no differences in analgesic usage at postoperative 1 year while significant difference at 1 month. In radiological comparison, vertebroplasty showed less increment of kyphosis and loss of body height significantly (p<0.05). Also vertebroplasty group had shorter hospitalization stay significantly (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our retrospective analysis demonstrated that vertebroplasty provided significant pain relief, improvement of motion and reduction of analgesic usage and also provided considerable spinal stabilization that prevented further kyphosis and collapse.