ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZOL) on postoperative osteoporosis vertebral fracture (OVFs) of patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).MethodsWe searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about ZOL on postoperative OVFs of patients undergoing PVP or PKP from inception to June 30th, 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk bias of included studies. Then, RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 11 RCTs involving 950 cases of OVFs were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: the bone mineral densities of the ZOL group at 6 months (SMD=0.62, 95%CI 0.06 to 1.18, P=0.03) and 12 months (SMD=1.32, 95%CI 0.62 to 2.02, P=0.000 2) after the operation were higher than those of the control group. The re-fracture risk of the ZOL group was lower than that of the control group (RR=0.27, 95%CI 0.16 to 0.47, P<0.000 01). The visual analogue scales of the ZOL group were lower than those of the control group at 3 weeks (SMD=–1.03, 95%CI –1.42 to –0.63, P<0.000 01), 1 month (SMD=–1.57, 95%CI –2.30 to –0.83, P<0.000 01), 3 months (SMD=–1.53, 95%CI –2.20 to –0.86, P<0.000 01), 6 months (SMD=–2.59, 95%CI –3.42 to –1.76, P<0.000 01), and 12 months (SMD=–2.69, 95%CI –4.21 to –1.18, P=0.000 5) after the operation. In addition, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score of the ZOL group was better than that of the control group at 1 year after the operation (SMD=–1.61, 95% CI–2.42 to –0.81, P<0.000 1).ConclusionsThe current evidence shows that the usage of ZOL after PVP/PKP has better effects, it relieves the pain further, increases the quantity of bone significantly, ameliorates the BMD, reduces the incidence of re-fracture and improves the quality of life. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.