Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous kyphoplasty can recover the vertebral height after compressive fractures through extension of the sacculus. Bone cement is injected in order to strengthen the vertebral bodies, and recover anatomic form and mechanical property.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous kyphoplasty in treating osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compressive fractures.
METHODS: Totally 41 cases of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compressive fractures were treated by percutaneous kyphoplasty with injection of polymethylmethacrylate under “C” armed fluoroscopy image guiding. The clinical effect was evaluated by observing the changes of visual analog scale (VAS) and imaging.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All cases were treated successfully without any complication. During the 3-month follow-up after operation, the mean height of the anterior and media vertebral body and the Cobb’s angle were improved obviously after operation (P < 0.05), and VAS was decreased at the same time (P < 0.01). It can conclude that the percutaneous kyphoplasty is simple and safe in treating osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compressive fractures, which can fast relieve pain, and improve patient’s quality of life.