title: Is there a stable vertebral height restoration with the new radiofrequency kyphoplasty? A clinical and radiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate whether radiofrequency kyphoplasty can restore vertebral body height in osteoporotic vertebral fractures and whether restoration of vertebral height correlates with decreased pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study from December 2010 to October 2011, 25 patients underwent RF kyphoplasty for 30 fresh osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The parameter demographics, pain relief, restoration of vertebral body height (mean vertebral body height, kyphosis angle, anterior/posterior edge height) and all complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of patients was 73.8 ± 9.6 (range, 55-83); time from initial painful fracture to treatment was 3.0 weeks ± 1.2; average operative time was 23.5 min (range, 15-41). Average pain index score decreased significantly from 69 ± 8.5 preoperatively to 34.4 ± 5.9 postoperatively (p < 0.001), and to 30 ± 6.3 (p < 0.001) after 3 months. Mean vertebral body height, anterior edge height and kyphosis angle showed significant increases postoperatively and at 3-month follow-up (p < 0.05). In two vertebrae (6.6 %), minimal, asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in the upper disc. After 2 months, one new fracture (3.3 %) was identified in the directly adjacent segment that was also successfully treated with radiofrequency kyphoplasty. There was a preliminary correlation between mean vertebral body height elevation and cement volume (r = 0.533).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency kyphoplasty achieves rapid and lasting improvement in clinical symptoms. There was stable restoration of vertebral body height with a mean cement volume of 3.0 ml ± 0.6. There was no correlation between restoration of vertebral body height and pain relief.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Halle, Magdeburger Str. 22, 06112, Halle, Germany. marc.roellinghoff@gmx.de
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Röllinghoff
authors: Kourosh
authors: K
authors: Zarghooni
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Zeh
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Wohlrab
authors: Karl-Stefan
authors: KS
authors: Delank
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome