Comparison of Surgical Outcomes Between Vertebral Body Stenting (VBS) and Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP)-Multicenter...

Background/Objectives: Vertebral body stenting (VBS) and balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) are widely used for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs). However, it remains unclear whether the theoretical biomechanical advantages of VBS translate to superior clinical or radiographic outcomes. This study aimed to compare VBS and BKP with respect to clinical outcomes, radiographic parameters, and complications. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective comparative cohort study, 123 patients with OVF treated with VBS (n = 24) or BKP (n = 99) were analyzed. VBS was indicated for complex fracture patterns, including severe endplate injury, split-type fractures, and absence of interbody sclerosis; other fractures were treated with BKP. Pain outcomes, operative parameters, cement volume and leakage, and radiographic measures of vertebral kyphosis angle (VKA) and local kyphosis angle (LKA) were assessed. For group comparisons, we used independent-samples t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables and chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. Results: Baseline demographics and bone mineral density were comparable between groups. Surgical time was longer for VBS (39 ± 6 vs. 35 ± 9 min, p = 0.007). Both procedures produced significant pain reductions (p < 0.001), and postoperative VAS did not differ between VBS and BKP (18 ± 11 vs. 13 ± 12 mm, p = 0.06). Although VKA immediately after surgery was lower for VBS (4.8 ± 4.4° vs. 7.0 ± 4.9°, p = 0.03), the magnitude of correction, VKA, and LKA at final follow-up were comparable. Cement volume was similar (6.4 ± 1.4 vs. 6.7 ± 1.9 mL, p = 0.45), but cement leakage occurred more frequently with VBS (54% vs. 24%, p = 0.005). Rates of adjacent vertebral fracture (13% vs. 26%, p = 0.12) and revision surgery (4% vs. 8%, p = 0.44) were comparable between groups. Conclusions: Despite VBS being reserved for more complex fracture morphologies with split-type fractures and severe endplate defects, while BKP was generally used for uncomplicated OVF cases, VBS provided pain relief and radiographic correction comparable to BKP.