Clinical evaluation of percutaneous vertebroplasty for symptomatic adjacent vertebral compression fracture.
METHODS
A retrospective study.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) for treating patients with symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) adjacent to lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion.


BACKGROUND
Few studies have investigated adjacent VCFs and their management after spinal fusion surgery for degenerative lumbar disease.


METHODS
From January 2005 to July 2011, a total of 23 patients with lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion suffered from adjacent symptomatic osteoporotic VCFs. All of these patients received PV using polymethylmethacrylate bone cement augmentation in our institute. Radiography and magnetic resonance imaging were used for imaging studies. The visual analog scale and modified Brodsky criteria were used to compare clinical outcomes before and after surgery. The minimum follow-up period was 18 months (range, 18-45 mo).


RESULTS
One level PV was performed in 18 patients and 2 levels were performed in 5 patients. The patients' visual analog scale scores improved by an average of 54.3 points after the procedure. Twenty patients returned to their preinjury activities of daily living. Lumbar lordosis was increased from 28.9 degrees before PV to 36.2 degrees after PV. The average restoration of the fractured vertebral body height was 14.0%. No surgery-related complications occurred except asymptomatic cement leakage in 4 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
PV is a minimally invasive and effective procedure to treat patients with symptomatic osteoporotic VCFs adjacent to lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Anesthesiology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University †Hung Chun Bio-S Co., Ltd, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan, ROC.
Shih-Chieh
SC
Yang
Hung-Shu
HS
Chen
Yu-Hsien
YH
Kao
Yuan-Kun
YK
Tu
Ken
K
Liu
Hung-Chun
HC
Cheng
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty