Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic compression fractures using calcium phosphate cement.

PURPOSE To compare percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty using calcium phosphate cement (CPC) versus conservative treatment for osteoporotic vertebral fractures. METHODS Eight men and 28 women aged 61 to 99 (mean, 80) years with osteoporotic vertebral fractures underwent percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty using CPC. During the same period, 6 men and 32 women aged 53 to 93 (mean, 77) years underwent conservative treatment. The indication for vertebroplasty was a painful unstable fracture, with mobility of the vertebral body shown on flexion and extension lateral radiographs. Fractures without mobility despite deformity were treated conservatively. RESULTS In the vertebroplasty group, all patients benefited from reduced back pain immediately after surgery, and pain relief was maintained at the latest follow-up. However, correction loss continued until one month after the operation. The mean visual analogue score for pain decreased significantly from preoperation to one day after surgery (9.3 vs. 6.2, p=0.02), and further decreased to 2.8 (p = 0.04) on day 3 or 4 when ambulation began, and to 1.5 at the one month follow-up and 1.4 at the final follow-up (mean, 14 months). The mean duration of analgesic treatment was significantly shorter in the vertebroplasty than conservatively treated group (10.2 vs. 63.5 days). All patients in the vertebroplasty group achieved bone union, with no adjacent vertebral fractures. However, in patients having conservative treatment, there were 2 adjacent vertebral fractures and 4 pseudarthroses, and the collapse continued for several months. CONCLUSION Percutaneous transpedicular vertebroplasty using CPC achieves immediate pain relief and reduces the risk of vertebral body collapse and pseudarthrosis among elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.