[Kyphoplasty in osteoporotic spinal fractures]

Kyphoplasty has been the standard procedure for osteoporotic fractures for more than 5 years but the material costs are still very high. The aim of this study was to clarify whether pain reduction could be achieved without increasing the rate of new fractures and also in what areas costs could possibly be reduced. From 15.01.2007 until 15.01.2008, a total of 100 patients with 126 recent osteoporotic spinal fractures were treated by kyphoplasty with an average operation time of 38 min and follow-up times up to 12 months. During this follow-up period 15 lateral and 2 dorsal cement leakages remained asymptomatic and 1 dorsal leakage caused an incomplete paraparesis, which was finally cured completely. All patients were very content and pain measured on the visual analogous scale could be lowered from 8.0 before the operation to 2.7 points after the operation. With material costs of 3,056 Euro, there were additional operation costs of 247 Euro per case. The average effective weight was 2.84. On average 7,810 Euro returns could be achieved, deducting material and operation costs left 4,507 Euro per case. More than 40% of gains were reinvested in operation and material costs. Within 12 months 6 new fractures occurred despite medicinal prophylactic treatment which could also be successfully treated by kyphoplasty. The average visual analogous scale after 12 months was 2.1 points.Kyphoplasty still causes financial deficits due to high material costs, however, patients benefit from a reduction of pain.