Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Vertebroplasty treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures has exact effect, but some hot spots remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate some key technologies of vertebralplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures such as puncture injury, bone cement injected dose, multi-vertebroplasty and bone cement leakage.
METHODS: Retrospective study of 87 patients with 137 vertebrae suffering from osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures which were treated with percutaneous vertebralplasty was performed. The patients received unilateral transpedicular puncture, bone cement injection at thin dense time and with volume from 3-7.5 mL with an average of 4.8 mL (thoracic: above 3 mL, lumbar: above 4.5 mL); all those multiple vertebral compression fracture were completed at one time.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were followed up for at least 6 months (6-30 months). Visual analog scale score and Oswestry disability index score were lower postoperatively (P < 0.01). All patients had complete pain relief postoperatively. One patient had the bone cement symptom of poisoning, bone cement leakage happened in 28 patients, but no severe complication occurred. The bone cement seepage reached to or surpassed the median line of vertebrae in 119 vertebrae (87.2%). Percutaneous vertebralplasty provide significant pain relief in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture; bone cement injected at thin dense time get satisfy seepage. The injection of over three vertebral compression fractures can be finished once. Strict and regular operative technique is the most important method to prevent catastrophic complications caused by bone cement leakage.