Improved percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in aged patients

Objective To evaluate the curative efficacy of improved percutaneotts veaebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotie vertebral compression fractures,analysis their characteristics,provides theoretical basis for the choice of the treatment methods. Methods Eighty-five consecutive patients,encountered from July 2008 to July 2012 in authors' hospital,were enrolled in this study.The patients were cured by improved percutaneous vertebroplasty. The anterior vertebral height was measured on a standing lateral radiograph at pre-operative post-operative (one day after operation) and final follow-up time.A visual analog scale(VAS)and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) were chosen to evaluate pain status and functional activity. Results The mean follow-up was for (20.6±1.5) months (in range from 18 to 46 months).The anterior vertebral body height of fracture vertebra was restored from preoperative(18.6±2.9) % to postoperative(49.4±3.2)%,the follow-up period(50.1±1.6)%.There was a significant improvement between preoperative and postoperative values (P 0.01) and no difference between postope-rative and final follow-up (P 0.05).The VAS was (7.9±1.1) at preoperative,(2.5±0.6) at post-operative,(2.3±0.4) at final follow-up time;and the ODI was preoperative (89.3±2.4),postoperative (30.5±6.4),follow-up period (26.3±4.8).There was statistically significant improvement in the VAS and ODI in the post-operative assessment compared with the pre-operative assessment (P0.01),while there were no statistically significant differences between postoperative and the final follow-up time(P0.05) . Asymp-tomatic cement leakage occurred in three cases. New vertebral fracture occurred in four cases. Conclusion The study suggests that improved percutaneous vertebroplasty is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in aged patients,have rapid onset,excellent efficacy,few and sligh side effects,easily accepted by patients and wothy of clinical application.