Long Term Results of Vertebroplasty in the Treatment of Osteoporotic Compression Fracture

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy and long term results of patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty, with bone cement, for osteoporotic compression fractures. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective surgical method for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 82 patients who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty, with bone cement, between February 2005 and February 2008, 54 patients who were followed-up for more than 4 years were selected. We compared the postoperative clinical and radiological findings immediately and at 1, 2, and 4 year follow-up. Clinical findings were evaluated using the Visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Radiologically, height of the vertebral body and adjacent vertebral body fracture were also assessed. RESULTS: Clinical outcome by mean VAS score revealed a change from 5.9 to 3.8 points preoperatively. The mean VAS scores were 3.4, 3.5 and 3.7 at 1, 2, 4 year follow-up, retrospectively. The compression rate of the vertebral body on plain radiographs was 30.8% preoperatively, 22.4% immediately after the operation, 23.2% at 1 year follow-up, 26.9% at 2 year follow-up, and 29.7% at 4 year follow-up. A new adjacent vertebral body fracture was noted in 7 patients at 1 year follow-up and 3 patients at 2 and 4 year follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a valuable method for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures, providing immediate pain relief as well as long term pain relief. However, percutaneous vertebroplasty gave unsatisfactory report about height of the vertebral body and adjacent vertebral body fracture.