[Balloon kyphoplasty for treatment of vertebral osteoporotic compression fractures]

Kyphoplasty, the newest of the tools treating vertebral osteoporotic compression fractures (VOCF) is the evolution of vertebroplasty, allowing not only pain control and strengthening of the fractured vertebra, but also offering the possibility to restore vertebral height with a lower risk of complications. We present our series of 41 consecutive VOCF treated by kyphoplasty in 30 patients between October 2003 and March 2006. Systematic spinal X rays and CT scan have be performed, occasionally followed by bone scintigraphy or spinal MRI. The mean preoperative duration of symptoms before surgery was 52 days. Pain control after the operation was considered excellent in all cases and all patients were mobilized the day after surgery. Kyphoplasty allowed a 50% restoration of vertebral height in 66% of the treated vertebras. The results were better when surgery was performed within the first three months after the fracture. The mean vertebral deformity correction by comparison of the pre- and postoperative Cobb angles was 9.7 degrees. One patient showed cement leakage in the spinal canal without neurological deterioration. The mean postoperative stay was 2.5 days. We found kyphoplasty to be a safe technique allowing immediate pain control after VOCF, with minimal risks of cement leakage or pulmonary embolism. Vertebral height and deformity correction are best achieved with early surgery, but pain control is always excellent even with a delayed procedure.