[Effectiveness of posterior short-segmental fixation with bone cement augmentation for stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with...

To investigate the effectiveness of posterior short-segmental fixation with bone cement augmentation in treatment of stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with spinal canal stenosis.

Between June 2012 and January 2017, 36 patients with stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease and spinal canal stenosis were treated by posterior short-segmental fixation and bone cement augmentation. There were 12 males and 24 females, aged 55-83 years (mean, 73.5 years). The disease duration ranged from 2 to 8 months, with an average of 4.6 months. Preoperative bone mineral density examination showed that all patients had different degrees of osteoporosis in the spines. The lesion segments included T ₁₀ in 4 cases, T ₁₁ in 7 cases, T ₁₂ in 8 cases, L ₁ in 9 cases, and L ₂ in 8 cases. The preoperative neural function was classified as grade B in 4 cases, grade C in 12 cases, grade D in 13 cases, and grade E in 7 cases according to Frankle classification. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and the volume of injected bone cement, and hospital stay were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), kyphotic Cobb angle, and the height of anterior edge of injured vertebra were recorded before operation, at 1 week after operation, and at last follow-up; and the leakage of bone cement was observed.

All operations were completed successfully. The operation time was 90-145 minutes (mean, 110.6 minutes); the intraoperative blood loss was 198-302 mL (mean, 242.5 mL); the volume of injected bone cement was 8.3-10.5 mL (mean, 9.2 mL); the hospital stays were 7-12 days (mean, 8.3 days). All patients were followed up 12-26 months (mean, 24.5 months). At 1 week after operation, the neural function was classified as grade B in 2 cases, grade C in 8 cases, grade D in 12 cases, and grade E in 14 cases, which was significantly improved when compared with that before operation ( Z=2.000, P=0.047). The VAS score, ODI, the height of anterior edge of injured vertebra, and Cobb angle were significantly improved at 1 week and last follow-up when compared with preoperative values ( P<0.05); but there was no significant difference between 1 week and last follow-up ( P>0.05). Two cases had asymptomatic cement leakage to the intervertebral disc at 1 week after operation; and 1 case had adjacent vertebral fracture at 8 months after operation. No complication such as loosening or breaking of internal fixator occurred during the follow-up.

Posterior short-segmental fixation with bone cement augmentation is a safe and effective surgical scheme for stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease combined with spinal canal stenosis, which can avoid the aggravation of nerve injury and complications related to staying in bed.