title: [Percutaneous vertebroplasty to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures combined with intravertebral clefts by unilateral approach].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with or without intravertebral clefts by unilateral approach and the impact of intravertebral clefts on the effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 65 patients who met the inclusion criteria of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture were retrospectively analyzed. According to having intravertebral clefts or not, the patients were divided into 2 groups: cleft group (group A, n=25) and non-cleft group (group B, n=40). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, the level of fracture vertebrae, degree of damage, and interval of injury and operation between 2 groups (P > 0.05). All patients were given PVP procedure by unilateral approach. The operation time, the injected volume of bone cement, time to ambulate, complications, and adjacent vertebral re-fracture were recorded. The height of anterior and middle column and the posterior convex Cobb angle of injured spine were measured on the lateral X-ray film in standing position at preoperation and 1, 48 weeks after operation. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) system were used to evaluate the pain relief and improvement of daily activity function respectively at preoperation and 1, 4, and 48 weeks after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the operation time and time to ambulate between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The injected volume of bone cement in group B was significantly less than that in group A (t=1.833, P=0.034). Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 6 patients (4 in group A and 2 in group B), in group A including 1 case of venous leakage, 2 cases of paravertebral leakage, and 1 case of intradiscal leakage; in group B including 2 cases of venous leakage. No symptomatic pulmonary embolism was observed. The vital sign was stable during operation and postoperatively. All patients were followed up 12-30 months (mean, 18.5 months). No re-fracture of the vertebrae occurred during the follow-up. The postoperative VAS score, ODI, the height of anterior and middle column, and the posterior convex Cobb angle of injured spine were improved significantly when compared with the preoperative ones in 2 groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between 2 groups at pre- and post-operation (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PVP by unilateral approach is safty and efficacy in the treatment of osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture combined with intravertebral clefts. Intravertebral clefts have no significant impact on the effectiveness in the pain relief and function improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Fengrun County People's Hospital, Tangshan Hebei, 064000, P.R.China. gaowanxu@sina.com
authors.forename: Wanxu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Jingchun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements