Percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment of acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Objective To analyze the therapeutic effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty( PVP) for the treatment of acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods From January 2011 to December 2012,38 cases were treated with PVP for one-level osteoporotic compression fracture,which included 7 males and 31 females in the age range of 55-80 years with a mean age of 65. 1 years old. All operations were finished successfully under local anesthesia on the surgical area with1% lidocaine at prone position. Body height and kyphotic Cobb's angle of vertebral bodies were measured before and after operation,pain levels and activity was evaluated by visual analogue scale( VAS) score and locomotor activity score at preoperative,postoperative 1 d,postoperative 1 week,postoperative 3 months and postoperative 12 months. Complications were also recorded. Results The average operation time was 32 min( ranging 25-50 min). An average of 3. 5 m L Polymethylmethacrylate( PMMA) were injected. Follow-up period was more than 12 months. Respective preoperative and postoperative,the anterior height of the vertebral body were( 19. 2 ± 5. 7) mm and( 20. 0 ± 5. 7) mm; the medium height of the vertebral body were( 19. 2 ± 5. 1) mm and( 20. 2 ± 5. 0) mm; the difference was statistically significant( P 0. 05). There was no difference in the posterior vertebral height and the kyphotic Cobb's angle correction rate at preoperative and postoperative. Pain relief and mobility improvement were observed after the operation. VAS score revealed a decrease from 8. 3 ± 1. 1 to 1. 1 ±0. 6. Locomotor activity score decreased from 3. 1 ± 0. 9 to 1. 1 ± 0. 3. Cement leakage happened in 9 patients without neurological complications. Conclusion PVP can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes in treating acute osteoporotic compression fractures.