Restoration in Vertebral Compression Fractures (VCF): Effectiveness Evaluation Based on 3D Technology

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) often lack studies on anatomical reduction before stabilization.
• Restoring vertebral height is common, but fractured endplate reduction remains limited.
• Vertebral endplates, as weight-bearing joint surfaces, require careful treatment to prevent complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of achieving anatomical reduction in VCFs across various bone conditions, fracture types, and patient ages.
• To introduce and evaluate a novel surgical technique for VCF treatment.
• To establish a 3D CT-based method for assessing anatomical fracture reduction.

Main Methods:

• Placement of two expandable titanium implants below the fracture site.
• Expansion of implants to reposition fractured endplates anatomically.
• Injection of PMMA cement to maintain correction.
• Evaluation of reduction efficacy using 3D CT reconstructions.

Main Results:

• Successful anatomical reduction of VCFs demonstrated in three case studies.
• Correction of kyphotic angle ranged from 49% to 62% compared to preoperative values.
• Significant pain reduction reported, with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores decreasing by approximately 50%.

Conclusions:

• The novel approach, combined with 3D assessment, shows promise in reducing vertebral kyphosis and addressing endplate fractures in VCFs.
• The technique demonstrated efficacy in improving patient outcomes and pain levels.
• Further extensive studies are required to validate these preliminary findings due to the limited number of cases presented.