title: Vertebroplasty Using Calcium Phosphate Cement for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures: Study of Outcomes at a Minimum Follow-up of Two Years.
abstract: METHODS
  A case-series study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after vertebroplasty using calcium phosphate cement (CPC) for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Vertebroplasty has become common for the treatment of OVF. However, few studies have reported the clinical application of CPC to vertebroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 86 consecutive patients undergoing 99 vertebroplasties using CPC. Following repositioning and curettage of the pathological soft tissue of the vertebral body (VB), vertebroplasty using CPC was performed in patients with osteoporotic burst fracture and pseudoarthrosis (procedure A). Vertebroplasty was also performed in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures (procedure B). Back pain and lower back pain were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The VB deformity index was measured in a lateral radiograph as the ratio of the VB's height to its longitudinal diameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at time of surgery was 77 years old. The mean duration of follow-up was forty-four months. All patients reported decreased pain according to the VAS immediately after vertebroplasty, and pain relief was maintained at the last follow-up in all patients without new OVFs. Complete bone union was observed in all cases by six months after surgery. The mean recovery rate of deformity index was 5.9% in procedure A and 0.02% in procedure B at the final follow-up visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vertebroplasty using CPC gave a satisfactory outcome and no delayed complications in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures at follow-up times of at least two years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Norikazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Mineyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zukawa
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Jinichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Tomoatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi