Percutaneous vertebroplasty for patients with osteoporosis: a one-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate changes in height and wedge angle of treated vertebral bodies and kyphosis angle 1 year after vertebroplasty.


METHODS
We reviewed radiographs of 95 vertebral bodies treated with vertebroplasty in 60 patients with osteoporosis. Only vertebral bodies with imaging evidence of a new fracture or avascular necrosis received vertebroplasty. Images were obtained for evaluation before vertebroplasty (B), within 2 weeks after vertebroplasty (T), and after 1 year (T1).


RESULTS
The mean wedge angle decreased by 5.4 degrees from B to T1. Mean of the anterior, central, and posterior heights of the fractured bodies increased by 12.6%, 9.6%, and 3.1%, respectively, from B to T1. The kyphosis angle improved by 3.2 degrees initially from B to T, but the improvement later disappeared. In 48% of these patients, a new fracture developed after vertebroplasty, and 63% of the fractures were adjacent to a vertebroplasty-treated vertebral body.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in height and wedge angle of the vertebral bodies generally lasted at least 1 year. Improvement in kyphosis angles was lost 1 year after vertebroplasty because new fractures occurred in 48% of these patients. Prevention of new fractures after vertebroplasty remains an important task.
Chang
C Y
CY
Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. cmychang@vghtpe.gov.tw
Teng
M M H
MM
Wei
C J
CJ
Luo
C B
CB
Chang
F C
FC
D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001416:Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*