title: Comparison of radiofrequency kyphoplasty and balloon kyphoplasty in combination with posterior fixation for the treatment of vertebral fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In case of complex vertebral fractures, posterior fixation is often required for correction of deformity and instability. Fixation is commonly supported by balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) anterior. A development of BKP is radiofrequency-targeted vertebral augmentation (RF-TVA), which leads to comparable results for augmentation and pain relief.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This prospective study evaluates the outcome of posterior fixation combined with RF-TVA or BKP, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  VAS, ODI, kyphosis angle and vertebral height of 44 patients were evaluated preoperatively, 3 and 12 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both treatments improved vertebral height and kyphosis angle. At 12 months, vertebral height restoration was still significantly better in the BKP group (p < 0.001) and the improvement of kyphosis angle was comparable between both groups (p = 0.71). VAS and ODI improvements were significantly better in the RF-TVA group (p < 0.001). 8% of BKP patients had cement extravasations, compared to 10.5% in the RF-TVA group (p = 1.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining posterior fixation with RF-TVA leads to better results of VAS and ODI, whereas the vertebral height restoration was favorable for patients treated with BKP. Cement leakage was comparable between both groups. It was asymptomatic and within reported ranges. Limitations of this study are the patient number and different stabilization instrumentation.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bornemann
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Otten
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pflugmacher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007738:Kyphosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements
keywords: BKP; RF-TVA; RFK; Radiofrequency kyphoplasty; balloon kyphoplasty; posterior fixation; vertebral fractures