Abstract:

BACKGROUND: During the course of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP), polymethyl methacrylate is injected into vertebrae and attaches in the broken ends of fractured bone, which hinders fibrous tissue regeneration and new bone formation besides of instantly stabilized fracture. In the long run, it is adverse to the healing of non-osteoporosis fracture.   
OBJECTIVE: To analysis the guidance of bone densitometry for choosing modus operandi and implantation material in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral compression fracture
METHODS: Totally 65 patients with single-segment of thoracolumbar compression fracture were divided into two groups according to the L2-4 bone mineral density: osteoporosis group were treated with PKP and non-osteoporosis group were treated with pedicle screw implant and fixation treatment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were 3 cases of paravertebral cement leakage in the osteoporosis group and 1 case of wound infection in the non-osteoporosis group. The postoperative follow-up ranged 20-28 months. Two patients occurred adjacent vertebral fracture in the osteoporosis group, but no one had vertebral height lost and kyphosis angle increased after fixation removed in the non-osteoporosis group. Operation time, blood loss and the visual analogue scale score in the osteoporosis group were lower as compared with non-osteoporosis group (P < 0.05). Compared with preoperation, both groups had statistical significance in vertebral height restoration and kyphosis angle rectification (P < 0.05), but the non-osteoporosis group was more striking in above indexes (P < 0.05). Both PKP and pedicle screw implant fixation treatment are common methods in treating thoracolumbar vertebral compression fracture of mid-aged patients, and a more significant clinical effect will be received if takes an appropriate operation according to the osteoporosis degree.