Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture in the Midthoracic Vertebrae (T5-8): A Retrospective Study of 101 Patients with 111 Fractured Segments

Percutaneous Kyphoplasty via Transverse Process-Rib-Pedicle Approach for Upper and Middle Thoracic Osteoporosis Fracture with Pedicle Stenosis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) via process-rib-pedicle approach for upper and middle thoracic osteoporosis fractures with pedicle stenosis.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective observational study. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the data of 62 patients with upper thoracic vertebral bone loss compression fracture treated via the process-rib-pedicle pathway PKP at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2020 to December 2022. The patients were divided into group A (unilateral PKP, 38 cases) and group B (bilateral PKP, 24 cases). The aspects of surgical safety, clinical efficacy, and radiological outcome were investigated.

RESULTS

All 62 patients successfully completed the surgery without any spinal cord, nerve, or vascular injury, and there were no complications such as infection and vascular embolism. The differences in visual analog scale scores（P < 0.05）, Oswestry disability index functional index（P < 0.05）, and Cobb angle（P < 0.05） were significant when comparing preoperative and postoperative periods, and the differences were not significant when comparing the postoperative periods (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in days of hospital stay (P = 0.653) and the rate of bone cement leakage (P = 0.537) between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

For upper middle osteoporotic thoracic vertebral fractures with pedicle stenosis, puncture via the process-rib-pedicle path is a safe and reliable puncture route, and more than 2.5 ml of cement can achieve good clinical outcomes, regardless of bilateral or unilateral PKP.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty with different pedicle approaches for osteoporotic vertebral

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty through different pedicle approaches in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) by network meta-analysis.

METHODS

Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science. Database for literature retrieval, retrieval time from the establishment of the database to April 2023, the randomized controlled trials of unilateral vertebroplasty (UVP), bilateral vertebroplasty (BVP), unilateral kyphoplasty (UKP), bilateral kyphoplasty (BKP), curved vertebroplasty (CVP) and curved kyphoplasty (CKP) were screened, evaluated and the data were extracted and included in the analysis. STATA 15.0 and ReMan 5.3 were used for data analysis. This study was registered in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) with the registration number CRD42023405181.

RESULTS

This study included 16 articles with a total of 1712 patients. The order of visual analogue scale (VAS) improvement from good to bad is CVP > BVP > UVP > CKP > BKP > UKP. The order of kyphotic angles improvement from good to bad is CKP > UKP > UKP > UVP > BVP > CVP. The order of bone cement injection from less to more is UVP > CVP > UKP > CKP > BVP > BKP. The order of bone cement leakage rate from less to more is CKP > CVP > UKP > BKP > UVP > BVP. The order of X-ray exposure time from less to more is CKP > CVP > UVP > BVP > UKP > BKP. The order of operation time from less to more is CVP > UVP > UKP > CKP > BVP > BKP.

CONCLUSION

For patients with kyphotic angles, kyphoplasty has unique advantages in improving kyphotic angles. But generally speaking, curved approach can optimize the distribution of bone cement through unilateral approach to achieve the orthopedic effect of bilateral approach, which is a minimally invasive technique with better curative effect and higher safety in the treatment of OVCF.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Curved Vertebroplasty in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed to provide higher quality evidence regarding the efficacy and safety between PCVP and PVP/KP in OVCFs. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (cohort or case-control studies) that compare PCVP to PVP/KP for OVCFs. The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used to evaluate the quality of the RCTs and non-RCTs, respectively. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. A total of seven articles consisting of 562 patients with 593 diseased vertebral bodies were included. Statistically significant differences were found in the postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) at 1 day (MD = -0.11; 95% CI: [-0.21 to -0.01], p = 0.03), but not at 3 months (MD = -0.21; 95% CI: [-0.41-0.00], p = 0.05) or 6 months (MD = 0.03; 95% CI: [-0.13-0.20], p = 0.70). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative Oswestry disability index (ODI) at 1 day (MD = -0.28; 95% CI: [-0.62-0.05], p = 0.10), 3 months (MD = -1.52; 95% CI: [-3.11-0.07], p = 0.06), or 6 months (MD = 0.18; 95% CI: [-0.13-0.48], p = 0.25). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in Cobb angle (MD = 0.30; 95% CI: [-1.69-2.30], p = 0.77) or anterior vertebral body height (SMD = -0.01; 95% CI: [-0.26-0.23], p = 0.92) after surgery. Statistically significant differences were found in surgical time (MD = -8.60; 95% CI: [-13.75 to -3.45], p = 0.001), cement infusion volume (MD = -0.82; 95% CI: [-1.50 to -0.14], P = 0.02), and dose of fluoroscopy (SMD = -1.22; 95% CI: [-1.84 to -0.60], p = 0.0001) between curved and noncurved techniques, especially compared to bilateral PVP. Moreover, cement leakage showed statistically significant difference (OR = 0.40; 95% CI: [0.27-0.60], p < 0.0001). Compared with PVP/KP, PCVP is superior for pain relief at short-term follow-up. Additionally, PCVP has the advantages of significantly lower surgical time, radiation exposure, bone cement infusion volume, and cement leakage incidence compared to bilateral PVP, while no statistically significant difference is found when compared with unilateral PVP or PKP. In terms of quality of life and radiologic outcomes, the effects of PCVP and PVP/KP are not significantly different. Overall, this meta-analysis reveals that PCVP was an effective and safe therapy for patients with OVCFs.

Impact of Aspiration Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Reducing Bone Cement Leakage and Enhancing Distribution-An Ex Vivo Study in Goat Vertebrae

Osteoporosis-induced vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) occurs commonly in people over the age of 50, especially among menopausal women. Besides conservative therapy, minimally invasive percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and kyphoplasty (PKP) have been widely used in clinical treatment and achieved good efficacy. However, the leakage of bone cement (CL) during vertebroplasty (PV) is a major risk that can cause (serious) complications such as compression of the spinal cord, pulmonary embolism, or even paraplegia. In this study, we introduced a new aspiration technique with standard PV procedures (APV) to ameliorate the risk of leakage with quantitative verifications of its effectiveness. APV intends to create a differential pressure to guide the direction of cement flow within the vertebrae. To test this technique, Nubian goats' ex vivo vertebral bodies (VBs) were used to simulate the PV surgical process in humans. Results show that the proposed APV has a lower leakage rate of 13% compared to the 53% of conventional PV. Additionally, the APV approach achieves more uniform cement distribution via the 9-score method with a value of 7 ± 1.30 in contrast to 4 ± 1.78 by conventional PV.

The significance of the best puncture side bone cement/vertebral volume ratio to prevent paravertebral vein leakage of bone cement during vertebroplasty: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To verify the clinical significance of the best puncture-side bone cement/vertebral volume ratio (PSBCV/VV%) and bone cement leakage in paravertebral veins during vertebroplasty.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of a total of 210 patients from September 2021 to December 2022, who were divided into an observation group (110 patients) and a control group (100 patients). In the observation group, patients' preoperative computed tomography (CT) data were imported into Mimics software, and the VV was calculated using the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction function. Then, based on the best PSBCV/VV% of 13.68% determined in a previous study, the optimal PSBCV to be injected during vertebroplasty was calculated. In the control group, vertebroplasty was performed directly using the conventional method. The incidence of cement leakage into paravertebral veins was observed postoperatively in both groups.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in the evaluated indicators between the two groups pre- or postoperatively, including the anterior vertebral margin height, mid-vertebral height, injured vertebral Cobb angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Intragroup comparisons showed improvements in the anterior vertebral height, mid-vertebral height, injured vertebral Cobb angle, VAS score, and ODI after surgery compared with before surgery (P < 0.05). In the observation group, there were 3 cases of cement leakage into the paravertebral veins, for a leakage rate of 2.7%. In the control group, there were 11 cases of cement leakage into the paravertebral veins, for a leakage rate of 11%. The difference in the leakage rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.016).

CONCLUSION

In vertebroplasty, preoperative VV calculations using Mimics software, combined with calculation of the PSBCV according to the best PSBCV/VV% (13.68%), can effectively prevent leakage of bone cement into paravertebral veins and further prevent serious life-threatening complications such as pulmonary embolism.

Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment by Unilateral Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Using Curved Diffusion Needle

Objective

To investigate the clinical effect of unilateral puncture vertebroplasty with curved diffusion needle (CDN) in the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCFs).

Methods

We used the method of a retrospective study. The clinical data of 38 patients with OVCFs treated by unilateral puncture vertebroplasty with curved diffusion needle from January 2021 to January 2022 were analyzed. The operation time and the amount of bone cement injected were recorded to observe the leakage and dispersion of bone cement during the operation and the incidence of vertebral re-fracture at the last follow-up. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the pain and functional improvement before and after surgery.

Results

All patients successfully completed the operation. The operation time was 31.2 ± 5.1 min, and the bone cement injection volume was 4.8 ± 1.1 ml. During the operation, three patients had bone cement leakage, and the leakage rate was 7.8%. The bone cement dispersion was excellent in 31 cases, among which seven cases were good; the postoperative follow-up time was 3-10 months, with an average of 6.3 months; no vertebral body re-fracture occurred. VAS score and ODI at 1d after the operation and at the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Also there was a significant difference between the postoperative 1d and the last follow-up (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Unilateral puncture vertebroplasty for the treatment of thoracolumbar OVCFs can obtain good bone cement distribution, safety and does not increase complications, and the clinical effect is satisfactory.

Cement augmentation for treatment of high to mid-thoracic osteoporotic compression fractures, high-viscosity cement percutaneous vertebroplasty versus balloon kyphoplasty

Whilst the majority of the literature suggests that balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) can relieve pain associated with vertebral compression fractures (VCFs), evidence of high-viscosity cement (HVC) vertebroplasty (VP) or low viscosity cement (LVC) BKP for the treatment of VCFs at the levels of high and mid-thoracic vertebrae remains limited. The purpose of this study was to identify the different outcomes between HVC VP and LVC BKP used to repair high (T4-6) and mid (T7-9)-thoracic VCFs. A total of 114 patients with painful collapsed single-level vertebrae at high to mid-thoracic level who had undergone HVC VP or LVC BKP at a single tertiary medical center was reviewed retrospectively. All patients were divided into the HVC VP group (n = 72) and the LVC BKP group (n = 42). Clinical outcomes including demographic data and visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared. Radiographic data were collected preoperatively, postoperatively, and at final follow-up. More volume (ml) of cement injection was seen in the LVC BKP group (4.40 vs. 3.66, p < 0.001). The operation time (minutes) of the HVC VP group was significantly less than that of the LVC BKP group (33.34 vs. 39.05, p = 0.011). Leakage rate of cement was also fewer in the HVC VP group (26/72 vs. 27/42, p = 0.004). Compared with preoperative data, the VAS was improved after surgery in both groups. The LVC BKP group corrected more middle vertebral body height and local kyphosis angle than the HVC VP group. The outcomes of LVC BKP were not superior to that of HVC VP. HVC VP might be a good alternative to LVC BKP in the treatment of osteoporotic VCFs in high to mid-thoracic spine.

High viscosity bone cement vertebroplasty versus low viscosity bone cement vertebroplasty in the treatment of mid-high thoracic vertebral compression fractures

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

As science and technology have advanced, novel bone cements with numerous formulated ingredients have greatly evolved and been commercialized for vertebroplasty. Recently, viscosity has been a focus to achieve better clinical outcomes and fewer complications. Meanwhile, the experience in the treatment of mid (T7-9) to high (T4-6) thoracic vertebral compression fractures is limited.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to identify the different outcomes between high-viscosity bone cement (HVBC) and low-viscosity bone cement (LVBC) used to repair mid (T7-9)- and high (T4-6)- thoracic vertebral compression fractures.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

This study was a single-center, retrospective cohort study PATIENT SAMPLE: A consecutive series of 107 patients with a total of 144 vertebrae was included.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The anterior vertebral height (AVH), middle vertebral height (MVH), posterior vertebral height (PVH), local kyphotic angle (KA), Cobb angle (CA), and other associated parameters were evaluated radiologically at several time points-preoperative, surgery day 0, postoperative day 1, and 6-month follow-up. Pain evaluation was assessed by using a visual analog scale (VAS) before and 6 months after the procedure.

METHODS

The patients were divided into two groups according to the viscosity of the bone cement used, and plain film and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the vertebrae were used to calculate parameters. The patient characteristics; bone cement brand; changes in AVH, MVH, PVH, KA, CA, and VAS; and complications of each patient were recorded and then analyzed.

RESULTS

Both groups showed increased vertebral body height, corrected KA, and CA after vertebroplasty. There were no significant differences between the HVBC and LVBC groups (ΔAVH: 2.19±2.60 vs. 2.48±3.09, p=.555; ΔMVH: 1.25±3.15 vs. 1.89±2.58, p=.192; ΔKA: -5.46±4.58 vs -5.37±4.47, p=.908; and ΔCA: -4.22±4.23 vs. -4.56±5.17, p=.679). There were significant preoperative to postoperative and preoperative to follow-up changes in AVH (HVBC, p=.012 and .046, respectively; LVBC, p=.001 and .015, respectively); a significant preoperative to postoperative change in MVH (HVBC, p=.045; LVBC, p=.001); and significant preoperative to postoperative and preoperative to follow-up changes in KA and CA (KA: HVBC, p=0.000 and .003, respectively; LVBC, p=.000 and .000, respectively; CA: HVBC, p=.017 and .047, respectively; LVBC, p=.006 and .034, respectively). The volume of cement injected was significantly higher with HVBC (3.66±1.36 vs. 3.11±1.53, p=.024), and the use of HVBC was associated fewer cases with cement leakage (26 vs. 45, p=.002). Furthermore, there was no difference between the groups in the incidence of adjacent fracture. Both groups showed an improved VAS score at follow-up, with statistically greater improvement in the HVBC group (2.40±1.53 vs. 3.07±1.69, p=.014). Moreover, significantly fewer patients with a VAS score ≥ 3 were found in the HVBC group (22 vs. 39, p=.004) CONCLUSIONS: HVBC and LVBC are safe and effective to treat mid-to-high level thoracic vertebral compression fractures. Compared with LVBC, HVBC shows less cement leakage, a greater injection volume, and better postoperative pain relief.

Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of PVP and PKP Combined With Triple Medication on Mild and Moderate Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture in the Elderly

Objective

To compare and analyze the therapeutic effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) combined with triple therapy on elderly patients with mild to moderate osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).

Methods

A total of 114 cases of elderly patients with mild to moderate osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were identified as research subjects in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2018, and a total of 136 vertebrae were included. The patients who underwent PVP operation were included as the control group with 67 injured vertebrae, and the patients who underwent PKP operation were included as the experimental group with 69 injured vertebrae.

Results

The operation time and bone cement injection volume of the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the two groups at 3 months and 6 months after operation were lower than those before operation, with lower VAS scores observed in the experimental group at 3 months and 6 months after operation. The anterior height of the vertebral body in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. The experimental group outperformed the control group in the incidence of postoperative complications. The postoperative Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) scores of the two groups were lower before the operation, in which the experimental group had lower scores than the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

PVP and PKP combined with postoperative triple therapy can achieve a promising analgesic effect. PKP has a higher volume of bone cement injection volume, and a lower incidence of complications, which gives rise to a better vertebral body recovery height than that of PVP, with rapid postoperative body function recovery and good quality of life.

Vertebral augmentation via the rib approach: surgical essentials and therapeutic effects

OBJECTIVE

-The rib approach is a new extrapedicular approach for vertebral augmentation in the thoracic spine. This article discusses the surgical essentials and therapeutic effect.

METHODS

-Computed tomography (CT) imagings were obtained from 100 subjects to stimulate a Φ 4-mm puncture needle via the rib approach to determine the anatomical parameters of the channel and the position of the needle inserted in the vertebral body. Application results for 26 patients with T5-10 lesions were observed, four patients were treated under general anesthesia and 22 were treated under local anesthesia.

RESULTS

-The channel diameter was 5.9-7.0 mm. In T5-10, the puncture needle could reach the middle of the midsagittal line of vertebral bodies in the transverse plane and only reached the middle and upper parts of the vertebral body in the sagittal plane. One week after surgery, the visual analog scale (VAS) sores decreased to 2.4 ± 0.8, the ODI decreased to 13.4 ± 5.9, and the anterior and posterior vertebral body height ratios recovered to 82.2 ± 13.7% and 86.3 ± 13.2%, respectively (all, P < 0.05). No intraspinal cement leakage or nerve injury was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

-Vertebral augmentation via the rib approach is suitable only for patients with T5-10 lesions located in the middle and upper parts of the vertebral body. The puncture needle should be inclined inward and downward. This method is characterized by simple execution and low risks of intraspinal cement leakage and nerve injury.

[Application of Curved Diffusion Needle in unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of Curved Diffusion Needle in unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) by compared with bilateral PVP.

METHODS

A clinical data of 93 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) treated with PVP between January 2020 and January 2021 was retrospectively analyzed, including 47 patients underwent unilateral PVP assisted with Curved Diffusion Needle (unilateral group) and 46 patients underwent bilateral PVP (bilateral group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, time from injury to operation, T value of bone mineral density, AO classification, distribution of injured vertebrae, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), relative height of injured vertebrae, and Cobb angle between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, the amount of bone cement injection, the incidence of bone cement leakage, the bone cement diffusion distribution, VAS score, ODI, the relative height of injured vertebrae, and Cobb angle were recorded and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All operations successfully completed. The operation time was significantly shorter in unilateral group than in bilateral group ( t=-13.936, P=0.000), and the amount of bone cement injection was significantly less in unilateral group than in bilateral group ( t=-13.237, P=0.000). The incidence of bone cement leakage in unilateral group was 19.14%, which was significantly lower than that in bilateral group (39.13%) ( χ 2=4.505, P=0.034). The score of bone cement distribution in unilateral group was 7.0±1.3, of which 41 cases were excellent and 6 cases were well. The score of bilateral group was 7.4±0.8, of which 43 cases were excellent and 3 cases were well. There was no significant difference in score and grading of bone cement distribution between the two groups ( t=-1.630, P=0.107; Z=-1.013, P=0.311). All patients were followed up and the follow-up time was 3-10 months (mean, 6.5 months) in unilateral group and 3-10 months (mean, 6.1 months) in bilateral group. The VAS score, ODI, the relative height of injured vertebrae, and Cobb angle at 24 hours after operation and last follow-up were significantly better than those before operation in the two groups ( P<0.05). There were significant differences in all indicators between 24 hours after operation and last follow-up ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in all indexes between the two groups ( P>0.05) at the same time point after operation. During follow-up, there was no complication such as contralateral vertebral collapse, refracture, adjacent vertebral fracture, or local kyphosis in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Unilateral PVP assisted with Curved Diffusion Needle for OVCF is beneficial to the distribution of bone cement, which can not only achieve similar effectiveness to bilateral PVP, but also achieve shorter operation time, less bone cement injection, and lower risk of bone cement leakage.

Effect of Surgical Timing on the Refracture Rate after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: A Retrospective Analysis of at Least 4-Year Follow-Up

Introduction

The effect of surgical timing on vertebral refracture rate and mortality remains elusive after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) or percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), and we aim to assess the impact of surgical timing on vertebral refracture rate and mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Methods

We did a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent PKP or PVP because of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2016. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of vertebral refracture. Secondary outcomes included the mortality and chronic back pain.

Results

The rate of vertebral refracture was significantly lower in early surgical timing group than that in late surgical timing group (HR 2.415, 95% CI 1.318–4.427; P = 0.004). We found that the bone mineral density (BMD) was only the risk factor to increase the vertebral refracture rate after vertebroplasty (P = 0.001). In addition, there was similar mortality between the two groups (15.7% in early surgical timing group versus 10% in late surgical timing group). Male patients (27.3%, 12/44) had higher mortality compared to female patients (10.6%, 20/189), while the mortality was higher in patients with cerebral infarction (25%, 3/12) than those without cerebral infarction (12.1%, 17/140).

Conclusions

Surgical timing significantly affects the vertebral refracture rate after PKP or PVP, which is also influenced by BMD. The mortality after the surgery is not affected by the surgical timing, but gender and cerebral infarction may be the risk factors of mortality.

Is unilateral transverse process-pedicle percutaneous kyphoplasty a better choice for osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures in the old patients?

BACKGROUND

A few reports have shown that unilateral transverse process-pedicle percutaneous kyphoplasty is a good choice for patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). However, this issue remains controversial and the related comprehensive research was lacked.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on patients receiving PKP surgery for OVCF. Patients were divided into three groups according to surgical approach. Symptom and radiographical evaluation were performed preoperatively, 1-month postoperatively, 1-year postoperatively and follow-ups. And follow-ups were repeated every year. Visual Analogue Scale Score (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, anterior vertebral height, coronal Cobb angle and sagittal Cobb angle was determined and compared among three groups.

RESULTS

Totally 447 patients were included with an average age of 76.6 ± 7.2 years old. UTP showed significantly shorter surgical duration (p < 0.001), lower cement volume (p < 0.001) but higher cement leakage proportion (p = 0.044). No significant statistical difference was found in terms of improvement rates among three groups. Besides, it was notable that the a significantly higher coronal Cobb angle was observed in UTP group, and a about 4°coronal correction was found after UTP PKP.

CONCLUSION

UTTP PKP could achieve similar symptoms relief and kyphosis correction as UTP and BTP PKP. However, it had shorter surgical time and less radio exposure than BTP PKP, lower risk of cement leakage and higher proportion of bilaterally cement distribution than UTP PKP. It seemed to be a better choice for patients with OVCF. In addition, we found that UTP PKP was especially fit for OVCF patients with asymmetrical vertebral compression.

Outcomes of Augmentation in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures Showing a Cleft Sign on MRI

INTRODUCTION

Intravertebral clefts (IVCs) typically occur in association with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and can be characterized based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of IVCs with different MRI signals and assess their influence on outcomes of vertebral augmentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively recruited patients with OVCFs and associated IVCs who underwent vertebral augmentation. Patients were stratified into two groups based on whether the IVCs were full of liquid or gas, as determined by MRI signals. Patients were also stratified based on whether vertebral augmentation involved percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) or vertebroplasty (PVP). Pre- and postprocedural parameters were compared between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 194 fractured vertebrae (86 liquid-filled, 108 gas-filled) were examined. Scores for bone cement distribution were significantly higher in the gas group than in the liquid group, indicating broader cement distribution in the gas group. In both groups, intervention significantly improved pain and mobility scores. Among patients with gas-filled IVCs, the incidence of bone cement leakage and recollapse of treated vertebrae were significantly higher after PKP than after PVP. In the liquid group, incidence of bone cement leakage and recollapse of treated vertebrae did not differ significantly between patients who received PKP or PVP.

CONCLUSION

Vertebral augmentation is effective for treating OVCFs with gas- or liquid-filled IVCs. However, in patients with gas-filled IVCs, PKP may be associated with higher incidence of cement leakage and recollapse of treated vertebrae than PVP. Liquid-filled IVCs may not promote bone cement distribution.

Short-term Efficacy of the Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Using a Curved Versus Straight Vertebroplasty Needle in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of the curved puncture approach with 2 conventional approaches in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for the treatment of single-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Ninety-six patients with a single-level thoracolumbar vertebral fracture were surgically treated in the authors' department from February 2016 to February 2018. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups, including 25 patients who had PVP punctured with a curved vertebroplasty needle (group C), 40 patients with unipedicular PVP with a straight vertebroplasty needle (group U), and 31 patients with bipedicular PVP with a straight vertebroplasty needle (group B). The short-term efficacies of PVP using different vertebroplasty needles were compared. Significant differences were tested preoperatively and postoperatively in vertebral body height variation, visual analog scale score, and Oswestry Disability Index in each of the 3 groups (P<.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in terms of Cobb angle correction and bone cement leakage. Group C and group U were superior to group B in terms of operative time and injected cement volume (P<.05). Twenty-four (96.0%) patients in group C and 29 (93.5%) patients in group B had centered cement distribution without significant differences (P>.05), which was superior to group U (P<.05). Curved puncture PVP achieved a satisfactory clinical outcome for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, with the advantages of less operative time, less injected cement volume, and more reasonable cement distribution for stabilization of the affected vertebrae. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(1):e131-e138.].

A novel and convenient method to evaluate bone cement distribution following percutaneous vertebral augmentation

A convenient method to evaluate bone cement distribution following vertebral augmentation is lacking, and therefore so is our understanding of the optimal distribution. To address these questions, we conducted a retrospective study using data from patients with a single-segment vertebral fracture who were treated with vertebral augmentation at our two hospitals. Five evaluation methods based on X-ray film were compared to determine the best evaluation method and the optimal cement distribution. Of the 263 patients included, 49 (18.63%) experienced re-collapse of treated vertebrae and 119 (45.25%) experienced new fractures during follow-up. A 12-score evaluation method (kappa value = 0.652) showed the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting new fractures (0.591) or re-collapse (0.933). In linear regression with the 12-score method, the bone cement distribution showed a negative correlation with the re-collapse of treated vertebra, but it showed a weak correlation with new fracture. The two prediction curves intersected at a score of 10. We conclude that an X-ray-based method for evaluation of bone cement distribution can be convenient and practical, and it can reliably predict risk of new fracture and re-collapse. The 12-score method showed the strongest predictive power, with a score of 10 suggesting optimal bone cement distribution.

Performance of Double-Arm Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)-Guided and C-Arm-Guided Percutaneous Kyphoplasty (PKP) to Treat Senile Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Background

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a common fracture in the elderly. Conservative treatment requires prolonged bedding, which may lead to serious complications. To explore optimized use of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of senile osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures, in this study, we used C-arm-guided and double-arm digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-guided PKP to treat OVCF in elderly patients and analyzed the effective recovery.

Material/Methods

In all, 60 patients who presented with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures at our hospital between July 2017 and February 2019 were analyzed. They were randomly divided into C-arm-guided group and the double-arm DSA-guided groups. Both groups were treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty.

Results

A pain VAS score analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between the two groups before surgery (P>0.05). After surgery, the VAS scores showed a significant difference between the C-arm-guided group and the double-arm DSA-guided PKP treatment group (P<0.01). Moreover, with respect to the bone cement dosage, vertebral correction height, operation time, cumulative radiation dose, percolation rate, and volume of bone cement, the double-arm DSA-guided PKP treatment showed significantly better results than the C-arm-guided PKP treatment (P<0.01).

Conclusions

Our data revealed that double-arm DSA-guided PKP was more accurate in treatment of senile osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures, producing excellent performance with more accurate intraoperative evaluation, shorter operative time, lower incidence of bone cement leakage, less intraoperative radiation dose, and higher safety, and thus, could be extensively applied to clinical surgery.

Safety and efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty assisted with O-arm navigation for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures at T6 to T9 vertebrae

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of PKP under O-arm navigation system guidance for treating middle thoracic OVCF (T6~T9).

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted for 44 consecutive T6~T9 OVCF patients who received PKP assisted with O-arm navigation (n = 20) or fluoroscopy (n = 24) from January 2016 to December 2017. Demographic data, radiographic parameters, and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed at pre-operative, post-operative, and final follow-up period. Complications including tissue lesion, needle malposition, and leakage of bone cement were also recorded amid operation.

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients (4 males and 40 females, with mean age of 71.1 ± 8.7) were enrolled in this study, and the mean follow-up time was 14.4 months. In surgical details, navigation system could obtain more satisfactory volume of injected cement and less loss of blood, as well did not increase surgical time compared with fluoroscopy. Both radiological and clinical outcomes improved significantly at post-operative and final follow-up, while did not differed between two groups. For adverse events, the incidence of cement leakage was similar between two groups. However, O-arm navigation can achieve lower rate of complications than fluoroscopy.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary study demonstrated that PKP assisted with O-arm navigation is a safe and effective procedure that applied for middle thoracic OVCF (T6~T9), which can achieve favourable radiological and clinical outcomes, and low rate of complications.