Outcome of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Assessed by Ambulatory Scale in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of percutaneous vertebroplasty based on the ambulatory scale, classified at our institution, and to determine the factors influencing on prognosis of vertebroplasty. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty between June 1999 and December 2001. A total of 151 patients underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty. We investigated the effects of clinical and radiological variables on ambulatory outcome of percutaneous vertebroplasty. RESULTS: Ambulatory status was improved in 94.7% and 88.7% of the patients at postoperative 1 day and last follow-up, respectively. Symptom duration, the remain of vertebral body height, the level and numbers of procedure, the amount of PMMA and presence of PMMA leakage did not influence on the ambulatory outcome of vertebroplasty(p>0.05). A stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that preoperative ambulatory score and the severity of osteoporosis were important prognostic factors at postoperative 1 day, while only the patients' age was a significant prognostic factor at last follow-up, in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous vertebroplasty can be an effective treatment modality for improvement in ambulatory status in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, especially when the osteoporosis is severe and preoperative ambulatory score is low. At long term follow-up, only patients' age has an important prognostic value.