Vesselplasty versus vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with posterior wall rupture

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare the effectiveness and safety of vesselplasty versus vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures with posterior wall rupture. METHODS: Patients who underwent treatment of a single osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with posterior wall rupture from January 2016 to February 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into a vesselplasty group (n = 17) and a vertebroplasty group (n = 43). Pain relief, radiographic outcomes, and bone cement leakage were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the operation time, postoperative pain relief, vertebral compression recovery, or local Cobb angle improvement between the two groups. However, the overall bone cement leakage rate (29.4% vs. 67.4%) and spinal canal leakage rate (0.0% vs. 30.2%) were significantly lower in the vesselplasty group than vertebroplasty group. CONCLUSIONS: Vesselplasty offers similar pain relief and vertebral compression recovery but lower spinal canal leakage compared with vertebroplasty. Vesselplasty is thus a better option than vertebroplasty for patients with osteoporotic compression fractures with posterior wall rupture.