Percutaneous vertebroplasty for the pain of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) treatment on the pain caused by osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods From January 2008 to March 2011, 91 patients of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fracture with pain were treated by PVP, including 29 males and 62 females, aged between 56 and 97 years (mean, 69.5 years). Through the visual analog scale (VAS) and analgesic taking time, the situation of patients with pain relief were evaluated before and after operation. Results All the patients were follow-up for 12-24 months (mean, 16.5±0.5 months). The back pain were relieved completely or significantly after operation, the VAS was decreased from preoperative 7.5±1.2 to postoperative 2.8±0.9 with a significant difference (t =11.425, P0.01). The pain improvement at one month after PVP was excellent in 82 cases, good in 6 and effective in 3, with excellent and good rate of 96.7%, effective rate of 100%. Eighty-four cases were consciously stopped taking analgesics in 6-24 hours after operation, 5 cases in 3 days after operation. Although the remaining 2 cases did not to stop taking painkillers, but the dosage was significantly reduced. Conclusion PVP is a recommendable method which can effectively alleviate the pain caused by OVCF.