Reduction of percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fractures

Objective To analyze the reduction of percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.Methods From April 2004 to February 2009,108 patients of osteoporotic fractures of thoracic or lumbar vertebrae were treated with PKP under local anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance.Multilevel was involved in 30 cases,and the posterior vertebral wall was involved in 24 cases.A total of 146 vertebral bodies were expanded and injected with PMMA,with a mean volume of 4.6 mL(range 2.5-6.5 mL).The reduction was evaluated with pre-,postoperative and follow-up X-ray films.Results Patients were followed up for an average of 2 years.In osteoporotic vertebral body,PKP produced void whose height was much greater than the restoration of vertebral height.The mean correction of vertebral body height was 2.7 mm(33.4% of the lost height) in anterior part,2.8 mm(37.8% of the lost height) in middle part,and the mean correction of Cobb’s angle was 3.3°.Partial or significant pain relief was experienced in all the patients with improved activity,which was not related to the rate of reduction.Conclusion During PKP,the trabecula in the osteoporotic fractured vertebral body is expanded and compressed by the balloon,with partial reduction of collapsed vertebral body,that was not related to pain relief.