Vertebroplasty combined with facet joint block vs. vertebroplasty alone in relieving acute pain of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture: a randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) combined with facet joint block (FB) and vertebroplasty alone in relieving acute pain on osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled study was conducted. One hundred ninety-eight patients of OVCFs undergoing surgery were randomly divided into two groups: Group P (PVP, n = 97), Group PF (PVP + FB, n = 101). The Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were measured during pre-operation, 1 day, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation, respectively. The hospitalization time, operation time, complications, recurrence, the mean amount of cement injected and the number of patients who applied Cox-2 inhibitors within 3 days after operation were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: The VAS and ODI scores at each observation point of the post-operation were significantly decreased than that at the pre-operation in both groups (P < 0.05). The VAS and ODI scores in Group PF were significantly lower than that in Group P 1 day and 1 month after the operation (P < 0.05). The number of patients who applied Cox-2 inhibitors within 3 days after operation in group PF was significantly lower that in Group P (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in hospitalization time, operation time, the mean amount of cement injected, complication rate, VAS and ODI scores at the pre-operation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both PVP combined with FB and PVP alone are effective treatment methods for OVCFs. But PVP combined with FB showed better back pain relief than PVP alone in the short term after the operation for OVCFs.