Watts N B
The Emory Clinic, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Neurosurg Focus. 2001 Apr 15;10(4):E12. doi: 10.3171/foc.2001.10.4.13.
Osteoporosis is a significant public health problem. Vertebral fractures are the most common fracture in patients with osteoporosis, occurring in approximately 750,000 cases each year. The fractures may cause acute or chronic pain, reduce the quality of life, and shorten life expectancy. Several medications are available that reduce the risk of fracture. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty (balloon-inflated expansion of collapsed vertebrae followed by injection of bone cement) may reduce or relieve pain in selected patients. Although surgery is rarely necessary for the management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures, it may be indicated for other reasons. No studies have been conducted to determine if the outcome of spinal fusion is different in patients with osteoporosis and, if it is, whether management of the patient's osteoporosis will improve the outcome.
骨质疏松症是一个重大的公共卫生问题。椎体骨折是骨质疏松症患者最常见的骨折类型，每年发生病例约75万例。这些骨折可能导致急性或慢性疼痛，降低生活质量，并缩短预期寿命。有几种药物可降低骨折风险。椎体成形术和后凸成形术（对塌陷椎体进行球囊扩张，随后注入骨水泥）可减轻或缓解部分患者的疼痛。虽然骨质疏松性椎体骨折的治疗很少需要手术，但可能因其他原因而进行手术。尚未开展研究来确定骨质疏松症患者脊柱融合的结果是否不同，以及如果不同，对患者骨质疏松症的治疗是否会改善结果。
