title: Comparison if the addition of multilevel vertebral augmentation to conventional therapy will improve the outcome of patients with multiple myeloma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This was a prospective study to evaluate the effect of multilevel vertebral augmentation in addition to conventional therapy in multiple myeloma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 27 patients, whom were recently diagnosed to have multiple myeloma by two ways of treatment. Thirteen patients (group I) were treated with conventional therapy and 14 patients (group II) with adding vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Patients were evaluated pre-treatment and at half, one, two and 3-years post-treatment by using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Stanford Score (SS) and the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values of ODI, SS and SINS were 31.9 (63.8%), 4.3 and 13.8 for group I and 33.2 (66.4%), 4.6 and 12.8 for group II before starting treatment. Group II showed improvement better than group I at all follow-up intervals with best results at first 6 months.P-values at the end of the study were ODI = 0.047, SS = 0.180 and SINS = 0.002. Mortality rates were equal of both groups (four patients of each group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adding vertebral augmentation to conventional therapy improves multiple myeloma patients' quality of life, but didn't affect the mortality rate.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Jordan University of Science & Technology, King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, 22110 Jordan.
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Audat
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University Hospital, Amman-Ramtha Road, Irbid, 22110 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Mahmoud H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hajyousef
authors.affiliation: Ibn Alhaytham Hospital, Tela' Al Ali, Amman, 11953 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammad D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fawareh
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University Hospital, Amman-Ramtha Road, Irbid, 22110 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Khaldoon M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Alawneh
authors.affiliation: Jordanian Royal Medical Services, King Abdullah the second, Amman, 11822 Amman Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohannad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Odat
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University Hospital, Amman-Ramtha Road, Irbid, 22110 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barbarawi
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University Hospital, Amman-Ramtha Road, Irbid, 22110 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alomari
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University Hospital, Amman-Ramtha Road, Irbid, 22110 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Rami A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jahmani
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University Hospital, Amman-Ramtha Road, Irbid, 22110 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khatatbeh
authors.affiliation: King Abdullah University Hospital, Amman-Ramtha Road, Irbid, 22110 Outside of the US Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Assmairan
keywords: Chemotherapy; Kyphoplasty; Multiple myeloma; Outcomes; Radiotherapy; Spine; Vertebral augmentation; Vertebroplasty