title: Does age of fracture affect the outcome of vertebroplasty? Results from data from a prospective multicenter FDA IDE study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the age of a fracture is a variable that can identify patients for whom vertebroplasty would be most beneficial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 256 patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) who underwent vertebroplasty were examined to assess the effect of fracture age on outcomes. Patients ranged in age from 34-76 years, and the age of fractures ranged from 6 weeks or less (n = 117) to more than 52 weeks (n = 3). Most patients had a fracture age of 12 weeks or less (n = 207), with only 17% having a fracture age greater than 12 weeks. The duration of back pain was used as a surrogate for fracture age and was confirmed by edema on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, abnormal bone scans, and the presence of central pain over the spinous process The primary outcome was pain reduction as determined by the change in the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score from baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 24 months after vertebroplasty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A fracture age of 12 weeks or less versus greater than 12 weeks did not affect outcomes, with patients in both groups achieving equivalent benefit after vertebroplasty. Patients with a fracture age of 6 weeks or less had a slightly improved benefit at 3 months after vertebroplasty compared with those having a fracture age of greater than 6 weeks, but the benefit beyond 3 months was the same.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the study showed that the age of a fracture does not independently affect the outcomes of vertebroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, USA. mubinsyed@aol.com
authors.forename: Mubin I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Syed
authors.forename: Azim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaikh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate