title: Height gain of vertebral bodies and stabilization of vertebral geometry over one year after vertebroplasty of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
abstract: The height gain of vertebral bodies after vertebroplasty and geometrical stability was evaluated over a one-year period. Osteoporotic fractures were treated with vertebroplasty. The vertebral geometry and disc spaces were analysed using reformatted computed tomography (CT) images: heights of the anterior, posterior, and lateral vertebral walls, disc spaces, endplate angles, and minimal endplate distances. Vertebrae were assigned to group I [severe compression (anterior height/posterior height) <0.75] and group II (moderate compression index >0.75). A total of 102 vertebral bodies in 40 patients (12 men, 28 women, age 70.3 +/- 9.5) were treated with vertebroplasty and prospectively followed for 12 months. Group I showed a greater benefit compared with group II with respect to anterior height gain (+2.1 +/- 1.9 vs +0.7 +/- 1.6 mm, P < 0.001), reduction of endplate angle (-3.6 +/- 4.2 vs -0.8 +/- 2.3 degrees , P < 0.001), and compression index (+0.09 +/- 0.11 vs +0.01 +/- 0.06, P < 0.001). At one-year follow-up, group I demonstrated preserved anterior height gain (+1.5 +/- 2.8 mm, P < 0.015) and improved endplate angle (-3.4 +/- 4.9 degrees , P < 0.001). In group II, the vertebral heights returned to and were fixed at the pre-interventional levels. Vertebroplasty provided vertebral height gain over one year, particularly in cases with severe compression. Vertebrae with moderate compression were fixed and stabilized at the pre-treatment level over one year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. pitton@radiologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pitton
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morgen
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herber
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drees
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Düber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D054854:Vertebroplasty