title: Quality of Life in Patients Following Vertebroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the quality of life in patients who underwent vertebroplasty treatment and compare it to the preoperative quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research included 50 patients under stationary treatment in hospital at the Department of Orthopaedics. The research instruments include a questionnaire containing demographic data and the standardised EuroQuol Research Foundation Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) consisting of five dimensions which include mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain level and anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average score of the current health status before surgery was 67.5 whereas post-operative health was rated 80 (p < 0.001). After the procedure, a significantly higher number of respondents reported greater mobility levels, and lower pain intensity; fewer respondents reported feeling anxious or depressed (p < 0.001), more respondents rated their self-care abilities higher (p = 0.003), and felt improvements when performing usual activities (p = 0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the vertebroplasty, a significantly higher number of respondents reported higher levels of mobility, lower pain or discomfort levels, and a smaller number of respondents felt anxious or depressed, more respondents felt they can take better care of themselves, and are better at performing usual activities when compared to the preoperative status.
authors.affiliation: JJ Strossmayer University, Osijek University Hospital Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rapan
authors.affiliation: JJ Strossmayer University, Osijek University Hospital Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Batrnek
authors.affiliation: JJ Strossmayer University, Osijek University Hospital Center, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vjeran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rapan
authors.affiliation: JJ Strossmayer University, Osijek University Hospital Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Egon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biuk
authors.affiliation: JJ Strossmayer University, Osijek University Hospital Center, Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Domagoj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rapan
keywords: EuroQol Research Foundation; Quality of life; high viscosity cement; pain; vertebroplasty