Kyphosis correction and height restoration effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty.
OBJECTIVE
Percutaneous vertebroplasty is known for its pain-relieving effect. Our purpose was to evaluate its effect on the kyphosis angle, wedge angle, and height of the fractured vertebral body.


METHODS
We reviewed digital radiographs of 73 vertebral bodies in 53 patients before and after vertebroplasty. We measured the spinal kyphosis angle and the wedge angle of the fractured vertebral body. Ratios of the height of the anterior border, center, and posterior borders of the collapsed vertebra to the height at the posterior border of an adjacent normal vertebral body were measured. Gain from vertebroplasty and the restoration percentage (gain divided by loss) were calculated for each parameter.


RESULTS
The kyphosis angle, wedge angle, anterior height, center height, and posterior height significantly improved after vertebroplasty. The mean reduction in the kyphosis angle was 4.3 degrees, and the wedge-angle reduction was 7.4 degrees. The mean wedge-angle reduction in fractured vertebral bodies containing gas was 10.2 degrees. Restoration percentages for the kyphosis angle and wedge angle were 19% and 44%, respectively. Gain in the height of the fractured vertebral bodies was 16.7% for the anterior border, 14% for the center, and 7% for the posterior border. Restoration percentages for the height of the vertebral body were 29% for the anterior border and 27% for the center.


CONCLUSIONS
Vertebroplasty increases the height of the fractured vertebra and reduces the wedge and kyphosis angles. These effects are most remarkable in fractured vertebra containing gas.
Teng
Michael Mu Huo
MM
Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan.
Wei
Chao-Jung
CJ
Wei
Liang-Chen
LC
Luo
Chao-Bao
CB
Lirng
Jiing-Feng
JF
Chang
Feng-Chi
FC
Liu
Chien-Lin
CL
Chang
Cheng-Yen
CY
D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011677:Punctures; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D001843:Bone Cements