Clinical Results Of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty In The Treatment Of Painful Vertebral Compression Fractures

Objective: To investigate the initial clinical results of percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of painful vertebral compression fractures, result from osteoporosis and tumor, at short follow-up. Methods: From January 2000 to January 2001, twelve percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures were performed in 12 patients, including six osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, four vertebral hemengioma and two vertebral myeloma. Unipedicular vertebroplasty was performed in ten patients, bipedicular in two patients. All patients were taken X-ray at 3rd 6th 12th 18th month postoperation to observe the change of height of vertebrae, pain, and the incidence of complications.Results: All patients were treated successfully, only 2 patients occured transitory low fever, no other complications occur at follow-up. All patients had pain relief after operations, at follow-up, 1 patient with vertebral hemengioma had ach by chance, 1 patient with vertebal myeloma had worsening of pain one month after operation. All patients had recovery of the height of compressed vertebrae, and no one had losing of vertebral height at follow-up. Conclusion: Percutaneous vertebroplasty provided effective pain relief with painful vertebral compression fractures, and complications were minor and infrequent. Percutaneousvertebroplasty is a promising less invasive intervention for painful compression vertebral fractures.