title: Outcomes of patients receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy who undergo percutaneous vertebroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and rate of complications in patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for vertebral compression fractures as a result of secondary osteoporosis caused by long-term corticosteroid use compared with patients with primary osteoporosis treated with PVP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of all patients undergoing PVP was conducted to identify patients who also received long-term corticosteroid therapy. Outcomes including pain, periprocedural complications, and frequency of new fractures in patients receiving corticosteroids were compared with control patients undergoing PVP for primary osteoporosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy underwent 79 PVP procedures. Patients treated with corticosteroids undergoing PVP were significantly younger and more likely to be male compared with control subjects. Patients receiving long-term corticosteroid treatment experienced significant pain relief immediately postprocedure and at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years postprocedure (P < .0001 at all time points). Patients receiving corticosteroids experienced similar decreases in pain from baseline compared with control subjects at all follow-up time points (P > .05). The complication rate for patients receiving corticosteroids was 4.4% compared with 3.4% for control subjects (P = .60). Patients on long-term corticosteroid treatment did not have an increased risk of new fractures after PVP compared with control subjects (P = .68).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous vertebroplasty performed for vertebral compression fractures as a result of long-term corticosteroid therapy is as safe and effective in relieving pain as PVP performed in patients with vertebral compression fractures as a result of primary osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MI 55905, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kallmes
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001843:Bone Cements