Changes in inflammatory factors in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and influences of rehabilitation training on postoperative functional recovery and inflammation

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in inflammatory factors in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). METHODS: 40 OVCF patients meeting inclusion criteria were collected, and randomly divided into rehabilitation therapy group (n=20) and traditional therapy group (n=20). 20 normal subjects were collected as control group. Venous blood was collected after admission, and the expression levels of IL-1 and IL-18 were detected via ELISA. Patients in rehabilitation therapy group received rehabilitation training post-operatively, while those in traditional therapy group received conventional therapy. The pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the spinal function was evaluated using Oswestry disability index (ODI) score. The curative effect was evaluated at final follow-up. RESULTS: The expression levels of IL-1 and IL-18 of OVCF patients were significantly higher than those in normal subjects (p<0.01). The VAS and ODI scores in the rehabilitation therapy group were significantly lower than those in traditional therapy group from the 3(rd) month after operation (p<0.05). The expression levels of IL-1 and IL-18 in the rehabilitation therapy group were obviously lower than those in traditional therapy group from the 3(rd) month after operation (p<0.05). The effective rate in rehabilitation therapy group was higher than that in traditional therapy group. The expression levels of IL-1 and IL-18 in OVCF patients are increased. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation training is beneficial to functional recovery and reduction of inflammation after OVCF operation.