The Clinical and Radiological Availability of Percutaneous Balloon Kyphoplasty as a Treatment for Osteoporotic Burst Fractures

STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively assessed the results of percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (KP) by clinical and radiological methods. PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of KP as a treatment for osteoporotic burst fractures. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Many surgeons are concerned about the possibility of neurological complications after percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic burst fractures, secondary to intra-canal cement leakage. METHODS: We performed KP as a treatment for osteoporotic burst fractures. We studied 12 patients/13 vertebrae. The two control groups consisted of patients who only underwent conservative treatment and those who underwent posterior instrumentation and fusion. We measured each preoperative/postoperative vertebral kyphotic deformity angle (KDA) using simple lateral spine images and checked for leakage of cement, as well. The preoperative/postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back pain, degree of daily activity, and postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean improvement in KDA after KP was 9.7±2.2°. The mean preoperative and postoperative VAS scores for back pain were 8.3±0.4 and 3.1±0.17, respectively. Regarding the control group, the mean postoperative VAS score for the conservative group and the posterior surgery group decreased by 4.5±0.17 and 3.2±0.19, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the KP and posterior surgery groups (p=0.125). However, there was a statistically significant difference between the KP and conservative treatment groups (p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: KP is safe and useful for treating osteoporotic burst fractures.