title: Analgesic effect of sacroplasty in osteoporotic sacral fractures: a study of six cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the short-term analgesic effect of sacroplasty in patients with osteoporotic sacral fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-center retrospective observational study of all patients managed with sacroplasty for osteoporotic sacral fractures between October 2008 and November 2009. For each patient, symptom duration, pain intensity, and analgesic consumption were recorded. Sacroplasty was performed under local analgesia, in the prone position, with computed tomography guidance. The long-axis approach was sued to introduce the needles and polymethylmethacrylate cement along the fracture line(s). Pain was evaluated on a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) 24 hours before sacroplasty then at the time of weight-bearing resumption 24 hours after the procedure. Hospital stay length before and after the procedures were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified six patients (five women and one man) with a mean age of 83.2 years. All six patients presented with low back pain and four also had buttock pain. The interval from pain onset to diagnosis ranged from 1 month to 1 year. All patients reported that pain onset followed a fall. The mean VAS pain score was 8.2 before sacroplasty and decreased by 7.6 points 24 hours after the procedure (with four patients having a score of 0). Mean hospital stay length were 12 days before and 4 days after sacroplasty. All patients required opioid analgesics before sacroplasty. At discharge, analgesic requirements were a step II analgesic in one patient, acetaminophen in one patient, and no analgesics in four patients. No adverse events were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings from our small population are consistent with a recent literature review of 15 case-series studies showing a significant analgesic effect of sacroplasty. The rapid effect of sacroplasty allows prompt ambulation, thus avoiding complications related to immobility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sacroplasty is effective in relieving pain due to sacral insufficiency fractures.
authors.affiliation: Service de Rhumatologie, Groupe Hospitalier du Havre, Hôpital Jacques-Monod, 29 avenue Pierre-Mendès-France, 76290 Montivilliers, France.
authors.forename: Anne-Priscille
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Trouvin
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alcaix
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Somon
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zarnitsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012447:Sacrum / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate