[Early results of kyphoplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated early results of kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with regard to the level of pain, activity levels of patients, and radiographic restoration of the vertebra bodies.


METHODS
Sixteen patients (4 males, 12 females; mean age 63 years; range 55 to 72 years) with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the lumbar spine were treated with kyphoplasty. The procedure was performed at 21 levels, with a minimum of 3 ml (range 3 to 6 ml) of cement per level. The mean time from the onset of symptoms to the application was six days (range 2 to 16 days). The effectiveness of the procedure was evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS: 0 no pain; 10 very severe pain) before kyphoplasty, and after the first day and one month of the procedure. In addition, restoration of the vertebra bodies was assessed on pre- and postoperative radiographs by measuring the anterior, middle, and posterior heights. The mean follow-up was 11 months (range 4 to 30 months).


RESULTS
The mean VAS scores were 8.8 (range 7 to 10), 2.4 (range 1 to 5), and 1.6 (range 0 to 3) before kyphoplasty, and after the first day and one month of the procedure, respectively (p<0.0001). All the patients returned to preinjury levels of activity within the first month. No collapse or refracture occurred in the treated vertebrae. Changes in the anterior, middle, and posterior heights of the vertebra bodies after the procedure were not significant. The only complication was the development of an additional fracture in the nearby segment in two patients, for which kyphoplasty was performed.


CONCLUSIONS
With proper patient selection, kyphoplasty is an effective and reliable option for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, yielding 80% to 95% success rates.
Akkaya
Tolga
T
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dali), Medicine Faculty of Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey. akkayatolga@hotmail.com
Ersözlü
Salim
S
Ozgür
Ahmet Fevzi
AF
Karaeminoğullari
Oğuz
O
Akgün
Rahmi Can
RC
Tandoğan
N Reha
NR
D000368:Aged; D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001843:Bone Cements