title: Randomized controlled trial of vertebroplasty versus kyphoplasty in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present the results of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of vertebroplasty versus kyphoplasty in treating vertebral body compression fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with vertebral body compression fractures were randomly assigned to treatment with kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty. Primary endpoints were pain (0-10 scale) and disability assessed using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Outcomes were assessed at 3 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year following the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  115 subjects were enrolled in the trial with 59 (51.3%) randomly assigned to kyphoplasty and 56 (48.7%) assigned to vertebroplasty. Mean (SD) pain scores at baseline, 3 days, 30 days, and 1 year for kyphoplasty versus vertebroplasty were 7.4 (1.9) vs 7.9 (2.0), 4.1 (2.8) vs 3.7 (3.0), 3.4 (2.5) vs 3.6 (2.9), and 3.0 (2.8) vs 2.3 (2.6), respectively (p>0.05 at all time points). Mean (SD) RMDQ scores at baseline, 3 days, 30 days, 180 days, and 1 year were 17.3 (6.6) vs 16.3 (7.4), 11.8 (7.9) vs 10.9 (8.2), 8.6 (7.2) vs 8.8 (8.5), 7.9 (7.4) vs 7.3 (7.7), 7.5 (7.2) vs 6.7 (8.0), respectively (p>0.05 at all time points). For baseline to 12-month assessment in average pain and RMDQ scores, the standardized effect size between kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty was small at -0.36 (95% CI -1.02 to 0.31) and -0.04 (95% CI -1.68 to 1.60), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty appear to be equally effective in substantially reducing pain and disability in patients with vertebral body compression fractures.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00279877.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Avery J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kip
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brinjikji
authors.affiliation: Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Kennith F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gaughen
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kallmes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Balloon; Spine