Objective To investigate the clinical significance of applicating posterior internal fixation for regulating spinal curvature in thoracolumbar compression fractures. Methods Between May 2006 and May 2009, 63 patients with thoracolumbar compression fractures were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 33 patients received traditional posterior internal fixation in control group; 30 patients underwent posterior internal fixation with spinal curvature correction under C-arm X-ray device in trial group. There was no significant difference in age, gender, cause of injury, injured segment, grade of fracture, and time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The Cobb angle, height of injured vertebral body, and disc height were measured by X-ray examination; loosening and breakage of internal fixation were observed and compared between 2 groups. The recovery rate was calculated according to pre- and post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores for each patient. Results All cases were followed up 20-45 months (mean, 31 months). The postoperative VAS score, ODI, Cobb angle, height of injured vertebral body, and disc height were improved significantly when compared with preoperative values in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05). At last follow-up, VAS and ODI scores of trial group were significantly better than those of control group (P lt; 0.05); loss of Cobb angle was (2.1 ± 1.7)° in trial group and (4.2 ± 3.2)° in control group, showing significant difference (t=1.457, P=0.000); loss of disc height was (1.4 ± 1.2) mm in trial group and (3.4 ± 2.3) mm in control group, showing significant difference (t=9.336, P= 0.000); loss of height of injured vertebral body was 1.8% ± 0.6% in trial group and 5.4% ± 2.1% in control group, showing significant difference (t=3.435, P=0.000). Broken screw and loosening screw occurred in 1 case of control group, respectively (6.1%), but no broken or loosening screw in trial group, showing significant difference (P=0.000). Conclusion Application of posterior internal fixation for regulating spinal curvature has a good clinical effectiveness. The postoperative spinal curvature, the height of injured vertebral body, and disc height can be improved significantly and low back pain can be recovered satisfactorily. The modified technique is also effective in reducing broken and loosening incidence of the fixation system.
Objective To summarize the research progress of secondary fracture of adjacent vertebral body after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). Methods Recent literature concerning PVP and PKP was extensively reviewed and summarized. Results The main reasons of secondary fracture of adjacent vertebral body after PVP and PKP are the natural process of osteoporosis, the initial fracture type, the bone cement, the surgical approach, the bone mineral density, and other factors. Conclusion Secondary fracture of adjacent vertebral body after PVP and PKP is a challenge for the clinician, a variety of factors need to be suficiently considered and be confirmed by a lot of basic and clinical epidemiological studies.
Objective To observe the influence on adjacent lumbar bone density after strengthening of T12, L1 segment vertebral osteoporotic compression fracture by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in postmenopausal female. Methods Between January 2008 and June 2011, 59 patients with T12, L1 segment thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fracture were treated with PVP in 29 cases (PVP group) and PKP in 30 cases (PKP group), who were in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. No significant difference was found in gender, duration of menopause, disease druation, causes of injury, fractured vertebral body, and vertebral fracture classification between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The kyphosis Cobb angle of surgical area was measured at preoperation, 1 week after operation, and last follow-up; the lower three lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) of the surgical area, the femoral neck BMD, and body mass index (BMI) of patients were measured at perioperative period and last follow-up to find out the statement of anti-osteoporosis; FRAX online tools were used to evaluate the probability of major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture of the next 10 years. Results The average follow-up was 25.5 months (range, 12-48 months) in 2 groups. There was significant difference in kyphosis Cobb angle of T12, L1 between preoperation and last follow-up in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05); the Cobb angle of PKP group was significantly less than that of PVP group at 1 week after operation and last follow-up (P lt; 0.05). No significant difference was found in BMI between 2 groups, and between perioperative period and last follow-up in the same group (P gt; 0.05). The lower three lumbar spine BMD of the surgical area and its T value at last follow-up was improved significantly when compared with BMD at perioperative period (P lt; 0.05); there was no significant difference in the lower three lumbar spine BMD and its T value between 2 groups at perioperative period (P gt; 0.05), but significant difference was found between two groups at last follow-up (P lt; 0.05). Difference was not significant in the femoral neck BMD and its T value between 2 groups, and between perioperative period and last follow-up in the same group (P gt; 0.05). The probability of major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture of the next 10 years was not significantly different between 2 groups and between perioperative period and last follow-up in the same group (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The increased BMD of adjacent lumbar spine can improve the strength of the vertebral body and reduce the incidence of adjacent vertebral fracture in patients with T12, L1 segment vertebral osteoporotic compression fracture after PVP/PKP, and PKP is superior to PVP increasing BMD of adjacent lumbar spine.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with or without intravertebral clefts by unilateral approach and the impact of intravertebral clefts on the effectiveness. MethodsThe clinical data of 65 patients who met the inclusion criteria of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture were retrospectively analyzed. According to having intravertebral clefts or not, the patients were divided into 2 groups: cleft group (group A, n=25) and non-cleft group (group B, n=40). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, the level of fracture vertebrae, degree of damage, and interval of injury and operation between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). All patients were given PVP procedure by unilateral approach. The operation time, the injected volume of bone cement, time to ambulate, complications, and adjacent vertebral re-fracture were recorded. The height of anterior and middle column and the posterior convex Cobb angle of injured spine were measured on the lateral X-ray film in standing position at preoperation and 1, 48 weeks after operation. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) system were used to evaluate the pain relief and improvement of daily activity function respectively at preoperation and 1, 4, and 48 weeks after operation. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the operation time and time to ambulate between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The injected volume of bone cement in group B was significantly less than that in group A (t=1.833, P=0.034). Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 6 patients (4 in group A and 2 in group B), in group A including 1 case of venous leakage, 2 cases of paravertebral leakage, and 1 case of intradiscal leakage; in group B including 2 cases of venous leakage. No symptomatic pulmonary embolism was observed. The vital sign was stable during operation and postoperatively. All patients were followed up 12-30 months (mean, 18.5 months). No re-fracture of the vertebrae occurred during the follow-up. The postoperative VAS score, ODI, the height of anterior and middle column, and the posterior convex Cobb angle of injured spine were improved significantly when compared with the preoperative ones in 2 groups (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between 2 groups at pre- and post-operation (P gt; 0.05). ConclusionPVP by unilateral approach is safty and efficacy in the treatment of osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture combined with intravertebral clefts. Intravertebral clefts have no significant impact on the effectiveness in the pain relief and function improvement.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in hyperextension position for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) with vacuum phenomenon. Methods Between April 2004and August 2009, 35 patients who suffered from OVCF with vacuum phenomenon were treated with PKP in hyperextension position, 8 patients were excluded because of lost follow-up. In 27 follow-up cases, there were 9 males and 18 females with an average age of 75 years (range, 58-90 years) and with an average disease duration of 9.8 months (range, 2-17 months). One vertebral body was involved in 26 cases and 2 vertebral bodies were involved in 1 case. According to the imaging examination and Krauss et al. criterion, all patients were diagnosed as having vertebral vacuum phenomenon. Refer to the lateral X-ray views, the height and the kyphotic angle of the involved vertebral body were measured pre- and postoperatively. The surgical outcomes were evaluated by using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disabil ity index (ODI) system. Results All operations were performed successfully with no severe compl ication. The mean follow-up of 27 patients was 32 months (range, 24-58 months). The mean cl inical heal ing time of OVCF was 4 months (range, 3-6 months). The VAS score, ODI system, anterior and medial height of involved vertebral body, kyphotic angle of involved vertebral body were improved significantly at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P lt; 0.05); there was no significant difference between at 1 week after operation and at last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference in the posterior height of involved vertebral body among different postoperative time-points (P gt; 0.05). Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 3 patients. Adjacent vertebral fracture occurred in 1 patient at 7 months. Intravertebral vacuums showed a compact and sol id cement fill ing pattern. Conclusion PKP in hyperextension position can significantly rel ieve back pain, restore vertebral height, and correct local kyphosis in the treatment of OVCF with vacuum phenomenon.
Objective To analyse the correlative factors of secondary vertebral fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) at different levels (adjacent and/or nonadjacent levels). Methods Between December 2002 and May 2008, 84 patients with OVCF were treated with PKP, and the cl inical data were analysed retrospectively. There were 11 males and 73 females with an average age of 70.1 years (range, 55-90 years). All patients were followed up 24-96 months (mean, 38 months). Secondary vertebral fracture occurred in 12 cases at 3-52 months after PKP (secondary fracture group), no secondary fracture in 72 cases (control group) at over 24months. The preoperative bone mineral density, postoperative vertebral height compression rate, postoperative Cobb angle, amount of injected bone cement per vertebra, puncture pathway (uni- or bilateral puncture), age, gender, number of fracture segment, and cement intradiscal leakage were compared between 2 groups to find correlative factors of secondary vertebral fractures. Results There was no significant difference in preoperative bone mineral density, postoperative vertebral height compression rate, postoperative Cobb angle, amount of injected bone cement per vertebra, puncture pathway, age, gender, and number of fracture segment between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). But the incidence of cement intradiscal leakage was much higher in secondary fracture group than in control group (χ2=5.294, P=0.032). Conclusion Cement intradiscal leakage may be the correlative factor of secondary vertebral fracture after PKP in OVCF.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Confidence high viscosity bone cement system and postural reduction in treating acute severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods Between June 2004 and June2009, 34 patients with acute severe OVCF were treated with Confidence high viscosity bone cement system and postural reduction. There were 14 males and 20 females with an average age of 72.6 years (range, 62-88 years). All patients had single thoracolumbar fracture, including 4 cases of T11, 10 of T12, 15 of L1, 4 of L2, and 1 of L3. The bone density measurement showed that T value was less than —2.5. The time from injury to admission was 2-72 hours. All cases were treated with postural reduction preoperatively. The time of reduction in over-extending position was 7-14 days. All patients were injected unilaterally. The injected volume of high viscosity bone cement was 2-6 mL (mean, 3.2 mL). Results Cement leakage was found in 3 cases (8.8%) during operation, including leakage into intervertebral space in 2 cases and into adjacent paravertebral soft tissue in 1 case. No cl inical symptom was observed and no treatment was pearformed. No pulmonary embolism, infection, nerve injury, or other complications occurred in all patients. All patients were followed up 12-38 months (mean, 18.5 months). Postoperatively, complete pain rel ief was achievedin 31 cases and partial pain refief in 3 cases; no re-fracture or loosening at the interface occurred. At 3 days after operation and last follow-up, the anterior and middle vertebral column height, Cobb angle, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were improved significantly when compared with those before operation (P lt; 0.05)；and there was no significant difference between 3 days and last follow-up (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Confidence high viscosity bone cement system and postural reduction can be employed safely in treating acute severe OVCF, which has many merits of high viscosity, long time for injection, and easy-to-control directionally.
Objective To investigate the efficiency of manual reduction combined with uni-lateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods Between May 2005 and May 2009, the manual reduction combined with uni-lateral PKP was appl ied to treat 42 patients with OVCF (group A), and the simple uni-lateral PKP was appl ied to treat 43 patients with OVCF (group B) at the same period. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the vertebral height, and the Cobb angle were determined before operation, and at 3 days and 6 months after operation. Ingroup A, there were 6 males and 36 females aged 59-93 years (76.5 years on average) with an average disease duration of 7 days (range, 3 hours to 21 days); 27 segments of thoracic vertebrae and 31 segments of lumbar vertebrae were involved, including 15 segments at mild degree, 38 segments at moderate degree, and 5 segments at severe degree according to degree classification system of compression fractures of Zoarski and Peh. In group B, there were 9 males and 34 females aged 54-82 years (75.3 years on average) with an average disease duration of 7 days (range, 1 hour to 20 days); 26 segments of thoracic vertebrae and 35 segments of lumbar vertebrae were involved, including 21 segments at mild degree, 36 segments at moderate degree, and 4 segments at severe degree according to degree classification system of compression fractures of Zoarski and Peh. There were no significant difference (P gt; 0.05) in sex, age, affected site, degree, and disease duration between 2 groups. Results There was no significant difference (P gt; 0.05) in operative time, blood loss, or injected cement volume between 2 groups. No serious compl ication or death occurred in 2 groups. Cement leakage was observed in 4 cases (9.5%) of group A and in 5 cases (11.6%) of group B. The VAS scores after operation significantly decreased in 2 groups (P lt; 0.01). At 3 days and 6 months after operation, the VAS scores in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P lt; 0.05). The postoperative compression rates of affected vertebral body in 2 groups significantly decreased (P lt; 0.01). The compression rates of affected vertebral body at 3 days and 6 months after operation, and the height recovery rate at 3 days after operation in group A were superior to those in groupB (P lt; 0.05). The postoperative Cobb angles in 2 groups were significantly diminished (P lt; 0.01). The Cobb angles at 3 days and 6 months after operation, and the recovery rate at 3 days after operation in group A were superior to those in group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The cl inical efficiency of the manual reduction combined with uni-lateral PKP is superior to that of simple uni-lateral PKP in treatment of severe OVCF.
Objective To investigate the causes and preventive methods of the bone cement leakage in percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral body compression fracture (OVCF). Methods From April 2003 to November 2007, 116 patients with OVCF were treated with PKP, including 57 males and 59 females aged 65-92 years old (average 67.7 years old). All the patients suffered from trauma and the course of disease was 1-14 days (average 5.7 days). There were 159compressed and fractured vertebral bodies, including one vertebral body in 83 cases, two vertebral bodies in 24 cases, three vertebral bodies in 8 cases, and four vertebral bodies in 1 case. The diagnosis of OVCF was confirmed by imaging examination before operation. All the patients had intact posterior vertebral walls, without symptoms of spinal and nerve root injury. During operation, 3.5-7.1 mL bone cement (average 4.8 mL) was injected into single vertebral body. Results The operation time was 30-90 minutes (average 48 minutes). Obvious pain rel ief was achieved in all the patients after operation. X-rays examination 2 days after operation revealed that the injured vertebral bodies were well replaced without further compression and deformation, and the bone cement was evenly distributed. Fourteen vertebral bodies had bone cement leakage (4 of anterior leakage, 4 of lateral leakage, 3 of posterior leakage, 2 of intervertebral leakage, 1 of spinal canal leakage). The reason for the bone cement leakage included the individual ity of patient, the standardization of manipulation and the time of injecting bone cement. During the follow-up period of 12-30 months (average 24 months), all the patients got their normal l ife back, without pain, operation-induced spinal canal stenosis, obvious height loss of injured vertebral bodies and other compl ications. Conclusion For OVCF, PKP is a mini-invasive, effective and safe procedure that provides pain rel ief and stabil ization of spinal stabil ity. The occurrence of bone cement leakages can be reduced by choosing the suitable case, improving the viscosity of bone cement, injecting the proper amount of bone cement and precise location during operation.
To investigate cl inical outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty with balloon in the treatment of severe osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture (SVCF). Methods From May 2006 to July 2007, percutaneous unilateral kyphoplasty with single balloon was performed in 7 vertebras of 6 SVCF patients, with 2 injured vertebras in 2 malesand 5 in 4 females, who were from 64 to 83 years old. The injured vertebras included 1 in T5, 2 in T8, 3 in T10 and 1 in T12 and the compression rates were 60% to 75% in 5 vertebras and gt; 75% in 2 vertebras. All the injured vertebras were old fractures and caused severe back pain, but without any neurotic symptoms and signs. The visual analogue scale (VAS) ranged from 6.5 to 9.0, 7.7 on average. The posterior vertebral walls were all intact in all patients under CT scan. The balloon was inset into the vertebra through pedicle of vertebral arch by percutaneous puncture under the guidance of C-type arm X-ray unit. The balloon was then extended to restore the vertebral body which was filled with bone cement later. The average volume of cement required was 3.5 mL (2.6 to 4.4 mL). Results The pain was alleviated or completely rel ieved after the operation. The mean vertebral body height restoration was 9.7% ±1.4% on the anterior border. Two cement leakages were found on X-ray. One month after the treatment, the VAS was from 0 to 2.45, 1.32 on average, and there was significant difference compared with preoperation (P lt; 0. 05). Three months after the treatment, the VAS was from 0 to 3, 2.13 on average, and there was no significant difference compared with 1 month after the treatment (P gt; 0.05). It was not found that the injured vertebras were compressed or deformed, and no new compressed fracture was found in consecutive vertebras. Conclusion Unilateral posterior-lateral puncture kyphoplasty with single balloon can rel ieve the pain and restore part of the vertebral height effectively with better outcomes.