title: [Comparison of effectiveness between kyphoplasty and conservative treatment in treating osteoporotic vertebral fractures].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of kyphoplasty in treating osteoporotic vertebral fracture according to comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2006 and August 2007, 60 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures were treated. Kyphoplasty was performed in 40 patients (test group) and conservative treatment was performed in 20 patients as control (control group). In test group, there were 6 males and 34 females with an average age of 68.7 years (range, 56-78 years). The disease duration was 10-18 months (mean, 12 months). A total of 73 vertebral bodies fractured. In control group, there were 5 males and 15 females with an average age of 70.1 years (range, 57-80 years). The disease duration was 9-16 months (mean, 13 months). A total of 41 vertebral bodies fractured. There was no significant difference in the general data between 2 groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All incisions healed by first intention in test group, and no leakage of bone cement occurred. The patients of 2 groups were followed up 36-38 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study (EVOS) questionnaire scores, anterior and middle vertebral column heights, and Cobb angles of test group at 1-3 days, 12 and 36 months after treatment were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P < 0.05); but there was no significant difference between before treatment and after treatment in control group (P > 0.05). After 12 and 36 months, the VAS scores, EVOS scores, anterior and middle vertebral column heights, and Cobb angles of test group were better than those of control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of vertebral re-fractures was higher in control group than in test group after 36 months (chi2 = 16.347, P = 0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kyphoplasty can effectively relieve pain and restore the function after the procedure. The risk of vertebral re-fractures after kyphoplasty can be reduced in comparison with conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, the Affiliated Second Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Chunyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chengxiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhenyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Zhongliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*