Treatment of osteoporotic compression fracture of thoracic/lumbar vertebrae by kyphoplasty with SKY bone expander system.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate prospectively the effectiveness of kyphoplasty with SKY bone expander system in treatment of compression fracture of thoracic/lumbar vertebrae and correction of the deformity.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with thoracic/ lumbar vertebral osteoporotic compression fracture were admitted to our hospital between March 2007 and March 2008, and treated by kyphoplasty with SKY bone expander system. Patient's pain status was rated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score system 1 day before and 1 hour, 48 hours, 6 months, 12 months after surgery. In addition, Rolland-Morris and Oswestry disability questionnaires (RDQ and ODI) were used for survey 1 day before and 1, 6, 12 months after surgery. Pre- and post-operative vertebral heights and Cobb's angles were measured based on the X-ray films and statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
There were 27 fractured vertebrae in these 25 patients. After SKY kyphoplasty, the Cobb's angles (9.8 degree ± 9.76 degree) were significantly reduced compared with preoperative angles (17.18 degree ± 9.35 degree P < 0.05), and the average improvement rate was 39%. Patients'pain VAS scores were also greatly improved after operation (P < 0.05). Moreover, postoperative RDQ and ODI scores were significantly smaller than preoperative values (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Kyphoplasty with SKY bone expander system provides an effective method for treating thoracic/ lumbar vertebral osteoporotic compression fracture, with the advantages of small surgical wound and short duration. It can effectively recover the anterior and medial heights of fractured vertebrae (33% and 50%, respectively), reduce the Cobb's angle, quickly alleviate pain and improve patients'quality of life in a relatively short time period.
Xiong
Jian
J
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China.
Dang
Yu
Y
Jiang
Bao-guo
BG
Fu
Zhong-guo
ZG
Zhang
Dian-ying
DY
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices