1. 2016;19;E743-E750Percutaneous Vertebroplasty versus Conservative Treatment for One Level Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Compression Fracture: Results of an Over 2-Year Follow-up
   Retrospective Review
   Ho Jun Yi, MD, Je Hoon Jeong, MD, Soo Bin Im, PhD, and Jung Kil Lee, PhD.

We retrospectively compared the clinical and radiological results of percutaneous vertebroplasty with those of conservative treatment in the management of thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fractures.

Sixty-five patients who could be followed up for more than 2 years with thoracic and lumbar spine osteoporotic compression fractures, between January 2005 and October 2010, were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of management: group 1, non-operated group treated conservatively; group 2, operated group that underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty. We assessed the clinical and radiological changes at postoperative and follow-up periods in both groups.

The male-to-female ratio and mean age of the patients were 11:54 and 73.04 years (range, 50 – 90 years), respectively. The location and number of treated vertebrae were as follows: T4 = 1, T6 = 1, T7 = 3, T8 = 1, T9 = 2, T10 = 1, T11 = 8, T12 = 11, L1 = 17, L2 = 10, L3 = 6, L4 = 3, and L5 = 1. The mean T-score was -3.37. The overall VAS score and the VAS score until 6 months post-injury were statistically more improved in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively). Overall, the compression ratio was statistically more improved in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.05).

Early pain control and restoration of the compressed vertebral body are the beneficial and real effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fractures.