Percutaneous curved vertebroplasty in the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty (PCVP) in treating thoracic and lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs).

METHODS

Patients with thoracolumbar OVCFs were recruited and randomly divided into three treatment groups: PCVP, unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or bilateral PVP. Bone cement dispersion in the fractured vertebrae was observed. Surgery duration, X-ray frequency, bone cement injection volume, bone cement leakage rate and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded.

RESULTS

Among 78 patients included, surgery duration and X-ray frequency were significantly lower in the PCVP and unilateral PVP groups versus bilateral PVP group. Bone cement injection volume was significantly higher in the bilateral PVP group (6.3 ± 1.4 ml) versus unilateral PVP (3.5 ± 1.1 ml) and PCVP groups (4.6 ± 1.2 ml). VAS scores at 24 h and 3 months post-surgery were significantly decreased versus baseline in all groups. The bone cement leakage rate was lowest in the PCVP group (8.8% [3/34 patients]).

CONCLUSION

PCVP is associated with reduced trauma, less complicated surgery with shorter duration, fewer X-rays, lower complication rate, and quicker postoperative recovery versus unilateral and bilateral PVP.