title: Magnetic resonance imaging changes of intervertebral discs after kyphoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimal-invasive cement augmentation techniques gained popularity recently. Long-term studies, however, are still not available focusing on the effect of possible acceleration of intervertebral disc degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (average age 67.1 ± 6.9 years, range 58-77; 10 female, 5 male) with acute or osteoporotic fractures were included in this study and MRI scans were performed before surgery and after a mean follow-up period of 15.2 months (range 8-27 months). Out of these patients, seven were available for a long-term MRI scan after a mean of 94.3 months (range 84-96 months). Disc degeneration and injuries were graded according to published Pfirrmann and Oner scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 43 intervertebral discs with moderate initial degeneration were examined pre-operatively and at the first follow-up. Twenty were available for the long-term-follow-up. At the first follow-up, 3 (1.3 %) discs showed a degenerative progression of 1 grade compared to the pre-operative MRI. Only one injured and one uninjured disc (0.4 %) showed progressive degeneration of 1 grade in the long-term follow up. No intervertebral disc in-between bisegmental cement augmentation showed acceleration of degenerative changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite several limitations regarding patients' age and lack of performed perfusion MRI scans, this study suggests that vertebral cement augmentation through kyphoplasty has no significant influence on disc degeneration even after a long period. The absence of severe disc degeneration after vertebral augmentation supports further clinical trials, which should incorporate endplate perfusion studies for detailed information regarding disc perfusion.
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queens Medical Centre Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, matthias.a.koenig@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panzer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bierschneider
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Boszczyk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002484:Cementation / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery