Is it necessary to approach the compressed vertebra bilaterally during the process of PKP?

To assess the clinical and radiological outcomes following unilateral or bilateral approach in percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).

Prospective comparative study.

University affiliated hospital.

From 2012 through 2016, those MRI-diagnosed single-level lumbar OVCF patients.

They were randomly assigned for treatment with unilateral or bilateral PKP.

We assessed the patient' health status with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire. Anteroposterior and lateral standing radiographs were obtained to measure the vertebral height and kyphotic angle of the vertebral body in all patients.

Eighty-five patients were finally enrolled in this investigation, including 42 in the unilateral and 43 in the bilateral group. The operation time, PMMA volume, radiation dose was 25.6 ± 4.2 minutes, 6.2 ± 3.5 ml and 0.88 ± 0.28 mSv in the unilateral group, while 36.6 ± 8.7 minutes, 8.5 ± 2.2 ml and 1.89 ± 1.05 mSv in the bilateral group, respectively (P < 0.05). The postoperative VAS and ODI were 2.7 ± 1.2 and 19.8 ± 6.4 compared to preoperative 8.7 ± 1.6 and 35.2 ± 4.3 in unilateral group, while 2.6 ± 1.3 and 19.7 ± 2.6 compared to preoperative 8.5 ± 1.3 and 36.7 ± 3.6 in bilateral group, respectively (P > 0.05).

Both bilateral and unilateral PKP are relatively safe and provide effective treatment for patients with painful OVCF. However, unilateral PKP need less radiation dose, operation time and PMMA volume.