Relationship between cement distribution pattern and new compression fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to prospectively investigate relationships between cement distribution patterns and the occurrence rates of new compression fractures after percutaneous vertebroplasty.


METHODS
Percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed for osteoporotic compression fractures in 76 consecutive patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to the cement filling pattern shown on radiography and CT: cleft pattern group (group C, n = 34), compact and solid cement filling pattern in vertebrae; and trabecular pattern group (group T, n = 42), sponge-like filling pattern. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain severity, and anterior and lateral radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae were obtained 1-3 days and 1, 4, 10, 22, and 34 months after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Differences in treatment efficacy and the occurrence rates of new compression fractures were examined and compared for both groups using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test.


RESULTS
A significant difference was seen between groups with respect to the volume of cement injected per vertebra (mean volume: group C, 4.5 mL; group T, 3.7 mL; p = 0.01). VAS improvement did not differ significantly between group C (4.6) and group T (4.5). The mean follow-up period was 19.5 months, during which new compression fractures were significantly more frequent in group C (17 of 34 [50%]) than in group T (11 of 42 [26.2%]; p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Although cement distribution patterns do not significantly affect initial clinical response, a higher incidence of new compression fractures is seen in patients with treated vertebrae exhibiting a cleft pattern.
Tanigawa
Noboru
N
Department of Radiology, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata Hospital, 2-3-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1191, Japan. tanigano@hirakata.kmu.ac.jp
Komemushi
Atsushi
A
Kariya
Shuji
S
Kojima
Hiroyuki
H
Shomura
Yuzo
Y
Omura
Naoto
N
Sawada
Satoshi
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002484:Cementation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*
D001843:Bone Cements