Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous vertebroplasty has been widely used to treat osteoporotic fractures as its pain relief effect is remarkable; however, the medium and long term effects still remain in uncertainty. It is reasonable to develop back muscle exercise on the purpose of improving clinical outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the medium and long term effects of postoperative back muscle exercises after percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic fracture.
METHODS: Sixty osteoporotic fracture patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group to receive the percutaneous vertebroplasty. General post-operation anti-osteoporotic therapy was offered to all the patients, whereas, the experimental group received additional systematic back muscle exercise. Five points support training was used as the first training program; if the exercise was carried on without difficulty; three points support training was taught. One point support training (swallow exercise) was carried out when three points support training was fulfilled satisfy.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Forty-two patients (20 in experimental group and 22 in control group) were successfully followed-up for two years. The Oswestry Disability Index of experimental group was significantly better than that of control group in 6 months, 1 and 2 years follow-up (P < 0.05). The Visual Analogue Scale of experimental group was significantly better than that of control group in one and two years follow-up (P < 0.05). It suggested that the benefit of the systematic back muscle exercise required at least 6 months to be observed; however, the favorable effect could be continued for a long time. Therefore, systematic back muscle exercise should be recommended as one of the treatment guideline for post percutaneous vertebroplasty patients.