Kyphoplasty treatment of vertebral fractures: 2-year outcomes show sustained benefits

Abstract

Study design: Retrospective single-center consecutive case series with two [corrected] year follow-up.

Objectives: To examine kyphoplasty [corrected] patients for long-lasting clinical and radiological outcomes [corrected] including effects on [corrected] vertebral body shape.

Summary of background data: Kyphoplasty is the minimally-invasive [corrected] reduction and stabilization of vertebral body fractures [corrected] resulting in pain relief and improved physical function as described in our previously published one-year outcomes report [corrected]

Methods: Safety (complications and cement extravasation) was monitored in all 117 patients (151 fractures) treated through December 2001. Preoperative and postoperative VAS [corrected] pain scores, analgesia usage, and ambulatory status were compared in 77 [corrected] of these patients with at least two-year [corrected] follow-up. Anterior, midline, posterior vertebral body heights, and height ratios from this cohort were assessed pre-operatively, [corrected] immediately postoperative [corrected] and after 2 years of follow-up.

Results: Pain scores, patient ability to ambulate independently and without difficulty, and need for prescription pain medications improved significantly (P < 0.001) after kyphoplasty [corrected] and remained unchanged or improved at 2 years [corrected] Vertebral heights significantly (P < 0.001) [corrected] increased at all postoperative intervals, with > or = 10% height increases in 84% [corrected] of fractures. Morphometric height ratios for treated fractures also significantly increased (P < 0.001): 0.67 +/- 0.24 to 0.81 +/- 0.21 and 0.64 +/- 0.24 [corrected] to 0.83 +/- 0.11. Asymptomatic cement extravasation occurred in 11.3% of fractures, and during the follow-up period [corrected] additional fractures occurred in previously untreated levels at a rate of 4.5% per year. There were no kyphoplasty-related [corrected] complications.

Conclusions: Kyphoplasty markedly improves clinical outcome [corrected] and results in significant vertebral height restoration and normalization of morphologic shape indices [corrected] that remain stable for at least two [corrected] years following treatment.