title: Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: New treatment strategies for fractures in the osteoporotic spine.
abstract: During the last decade, two new treatment modalities for osteoporotic vertebral fractures have gained more interest: percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. The techniques and the short-term clinical results and complications have been presented but there is no scientific evidence-based information regarding the efficacy of the procedures, such as randomized controlled trials (RCT). Instead, we have to rely on prospective and retrospective uncontrolled short-term observational studies and case-control studies. These studies have shown consistently that the short-term results after the procedures are favorable as regards both pain relief and functional status. It is currently unknown, however, whether a vertebroplasty or a kyphoplasty gives a better outcome than nonoperative treatment, and whether the long-term results are as favorable as the short-term results.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Molecular Osteoporoses Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. magnus.karlsson@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Magnus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hasserius
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerdhem
authors.forename: Karl J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Obrant
authors.forename: Acke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohlin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome