Clinical impact of sacroplasty on patient mobility.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of sacroplasty on patient mobility and pain when performed as a treatment for sacral insufficiency fractures.


METHODS
Imaging with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, or bone scan confirmed the diagnosis of sacral insufficiency fractures. Baseline clinical mobility scale (CMS) score and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were recorded. Sacroplasty was performed under CT guidance. Follow-up CMS and VAS scores were assessed at 4, 24, and 48 weeks.


RESULTS
Eighteen elderly patients (age 80 y ± 8.5; 17 women) were treated. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to assess changes in CMS and VAS scores over time. Pairwise comparisons revealed a significant increase in average CMS score between baseline and all three follow-up points-4 weeks (P < .001), 24 weeks (P < .001), and 48 weeks (P < .001)-indicating improvement in mobility over time. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in mean VAS scores between baseline and all three follow-up time points-4 weeks (P < .001), 24 weeks (P < .001), and 48 weeks (P < .001)-indicating improvement in overall pain level over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with CT-guided sacroplasty for sacral insufficiency fractures in this elderly population resulted in significant improvement in patient mobility.
Department of Radiology and Section of Vascular, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102. Electronic address: jennifer.m.talmadge@gmail.com.
Jennifer
J
Talmadge
Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, Maine.
Kahsi
K
Smith
Department of Radiology and Section of Vascular, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102; Interventional Radiology, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102.
Thomas
T
Dykes
Department of Radiology and Section of Vascular, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102; Interventional Radiology, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102.
Derek
D
Mittleider
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects