[Percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral osteoporotic fractures: long term analysis]

To assess the long-term efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of pain resulting from osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

26 percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures were performed for osteoporotic vertebral fractures in 15 patients during the period between July 2001 and May 2004. Before and after the procedure, a 10-point scale of pain was obtained. These scale was repeated at long-term follow up in two different moments after the procedure with one year interval. During these moments, the satisfaction, ambulation and ability to perform activities of daily living (five-point scale) were also analyzed.

The majority of patients (n=13) presented the 10-point pain scale between 8 and 10 before the percutaneous vertebroplasty. After the procedure, there was important improve of the pain, and nine patients presented zero point-scale and three patients between 1 and 4 (p<0.001). At long-term follow up with one year interval, there was no significant difference between the pain scale, the ambulation and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Fourteen patients reported a future willingness to undergo the procedure for treatment in case of a new compression fracture.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty can be a useful procedure for the treatment of pain and disability after secondary osteoporotic vertebral fractures with durable results in selected patients.