title: Pain outcome and vertebral body height restoration in patients undergoing kyphoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive technique, has recently been developed to provide immediate pain relief, biomechanical stabilization, prevention of fracture progression, vertebral height restoration, and prevention or reversal of kyphosis to patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 24 patients treated with kyphoplasty. A total of 37 vertebral levels were augmented. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were documented in the immediate pre- and postoperative period, as well as 4, 12, and 72 weeks after the procedure. Vertebral body height restoration was assessed on postoperative x-rays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean preoperative VAS score was 9.3 and improved to 5.4 in the immediate postoperative period. At 4, 12 and 72 weeks post-operatively, mean VAS scores were 5.1, 5.9, and 6.1 respectively. All patients returned to their daily activities within 24 hours. No significant restoration of vertebral body height was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In regards to pain relief and postoperative functional outcome, kyphoplasty is a safe and effective treatment modality for osteoporotic VCFs, even when no significant restoration of vertebral body height is achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Theofilos G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Machinis
authors.forename: Kostas N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Fountas
authors.forename: Carlos H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Feltes
authors.forename: Kim W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Joe S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001827:Body Height; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome