Percutaneous vertebroplasty: functional improvement in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures.
METHODS
Prospective, double-cohort study.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate conservative and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.


BACKGROUND
PV is an elective alternative to conservative management for the treatment of a painful osteoporotic vertebral fracture.


METHODS
We performed a prospective study consisting of 101 consecutive patients who underwent PV and 27 patients who refused PV treatment and were managed conservatively. We used a data evaluation and outcomes system that was developed to evaluate the outcomes of surgical intervention.


RESULTS
Patients that elected for PV as a treatment of their fractures had significantly more pain and functional impairment before the procedure than the patients of the conservative group (P < 0.001). The pain, functional, and general health scores of the PV group were improved from the preoperative mean values (P < 0.001) in all postoperative periods. Compared with the conservative treatment group, there was a significant difference at month 3. However, no statistical differences on function were observed between these groups at 6 months and 1 year posttreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
PV demonstrated a rapid and significant relief of pain and improved the quality of life. PV election for treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral fracture after 6 weeks of conservative treatment was based on pain and functional impairment.
Alvarez
Luis
L
Department of Orthopaedics,Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. lalvarez@fjd.es
Alcaraz
María
M
Pérez-Higueras
Antonio
A
Granizo
Juan J
JJ
de Miguel
Ignacio
I
Rossi
Roberto E
RE
Quiñones
Diana
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome