Comparative study on the period of absolute bed rest of vertebral compression fracture.
OBJECTIVE
As a conservative treatment of compression fractures, absolute bed rest (ABR) for a certain period has been recommended, but no guideline on the period has yet been established. Considering that a long ABR period may adversely affect patients, the difference in prognosis according to the ABR period was investigated in this study.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted who were diagnosed with compression fracture. Groups A and B were put on ABR (one week for group A and two weeks for group B). X-ray images at baseline, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks were obtained from both groups, for assessment purposes.


RESULTS
The compression rates of both groups were no significant difference at baseline, 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The conditions of 25.9% and 21.2% of the subjects deteriorated in groups A and B, showing no significant difference. Between the groups of age and bone mineral densities (BMD), no significant difference was observed in the incidence of deterioration. In terms of complications development including constipation and other Gastrointestinal problems, voiding difficulty, etc., group A reported 57.4%, and group B, 84.8%, showing a significant difference (p-value=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
No significant difference in the conservative period was observed between the groups. Group B, however, reported a higher complications development rate than group A. Therefore, a short ABR period may be helpful in the early stage of conservative treatment.
Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung Han
KH
Cha
Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Tack Geun
TG
Cho
Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Chang Hyun
CH
Kim
Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Ho Kook
HK
Lee
Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Gon
JG
Moon
Bed rest; Complications; Compression fracture