Percutaneous kyphoplasty for treatment of distant pain associated with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of the distant pain associated with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and the effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) on the distant pain. Methods Ninety-eight patients with OVCF were treated with PKP at our department from June 2013 to October 2016. They were divided into 2 groups according the their pain associated with OVCF. There were 34 patients in the distant pain group and 64 ones in the non-distant pain group. The sites of distant pain were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to assess the pain and disability severities preoperatively and postoperatively. Results The incidence of distant pain was 34.7% (34/98) . The distant pain was located at the lumbosacral area in 24 cases, at the hip in 14 cases, at the iliac crest in 14 cases, at the thigh in 14 cases, and at the calf in 2 cases. The distant pain group had a significantly longer course of preoperative disease (15.3±12.9 d) than the non-distant pain group (10.3±7.0 d) (P 0.05) . Conclusions The incidence of distant pain may be high in OVCF patients. The most common sites for distant pain are the lumbosacral area, hip, iliac crest and thigh. PKP can effectively relieve the distant pain associated with OVCF. Key words: Osteoporosis; Spinal fractures; Pain; Vertebroplasty