Kyphoplasty: 2 years of experience in a neurosurgery department.
BACKGROUND
Kyphoplasty is a new technique to treat collapsed vertebral body (VB) fractures. The technique is very effective for achieving rapid pain relief, restoring bone height,and consequent vertebral realignment,and thus stabilization of the vertebra.


METHODS
We reviewed 57 patients with vertebral compression fractures. All patients were neurologically intact and presented with severe low back pain or localized pain over the thoracolumbar region. Indications for kyphoplasty were osteoporotic and traumatic compression fractures, osteolytic tumor metastases, and aggressive hemangiomas without spinal canal compression.


RESULTS
In 57 patients, 77 levels were treated. Follow-up was 6.5 months. Patients were evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) preoperatively and postoperatively. The mean preoperative VAS score was 91.08 for pain, whereas the mean postoperative VAS score was 11.22. Percentage of mean pain relief was 87.9% during the first 6 months of follow-up. We achieved a 43.6% improvement in the height of the compressed VB and 6.3 degrees of improvement in the kyphotic angle. No serious complications occurred. Mean hospital stay was 24 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Kyphoplasty carries significantly less morbidity than vertebroplasty or open surgery. Risk for embolization is low. Normal kyphotic angle can be restored or improved by this technique. In the hands of experienced surgeons, kyphoplasty is a safe and a minimally invasive technique for patients with neoplastic, traumatic, or osteoporotic lesions of the vertebra or sacrum.
Atalay
Basar
B
Department of Neurosurgery, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. basara@baskent-ank.edu.tr
Caner
Hakan
H
Gokce
Cemal
C
Altinors
Nur
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate