Does vertebral height restoration achieved at vertebroplasty matter?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) can lead to altered spinal configuration and significant morbidity.
• The impact of vertebral height restoration (VHR) on patient outcomes after VCF treatment is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if partial VHR during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) improves pain relief and quality of life compared to procedures without VHR.
• To assess the relationship between VHR achieved via PV and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of patients with painful osteoporotic VCFs undergoing PV were enrolled.
• Quality of life was measured using the Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and pain via visual analogue scale (VAS).
• Radiographs were analyzed for dynamic mobility and VHR; outcomes were assessed post-procedure at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months.

Main Results:

• PV significantly reduced pain and improved OQLQ scores from baseline through 6 months post-procedure.
• Patients achieved an average of 2.9 mm of VHR in mobile VCFs.
• No significant differences in pain or OQLQ scores were observed between patients with and without partial VHR at any postoperative time point up to 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Partial VHR during PV for osteoporotic VCFs does not offer additional pain relief or quality of life improvements beyond the benefits of cement fixation.
• The primary benefit of PV appears to be cement augmentation for fracture stabilization.