Objective
This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of precise puncture combined with simplified percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).
Methods
A total of 82 patients with single-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) were treated with PVP from Dec. 2016 to Nov. 2018. Among the patients, 45 cases in group A and accepted precise puncture combined with simplified PVP, 37 cases in group B and underwent conventional PVP. The operative time, number of intraoperative fluoroscopy, vertebral height restoration, postoperative bone cement distribution and bone cement leakage were observed and compared. The pain relief and improvement of quality of life (QOL) were assessed by visual analog score (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI).
Results
There were no difference in injected cement volume and hospital stays in group A versus group B (P > 0.05). The operative time, number of intraoperative fluoroscopy and material cost were lower in group A compared with group B (P < 0.05). After surgery, both of the VAS scores and ODI had a significant decrease (P < 0.05). The average vertebral height and Cobb angle were significantly improved (P < 0.05), there was no statistically significant difference between groups at different time points (P > 0.05). The proportion of patients with bone cement dispersion exceeding the midline of vertebra in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (82.2% vs 62.1%) (P < 0.05), whereas the bone cement leakage rate was lower than group B (8.9% vs 27.0%) (P < 0.05). Patients were followed-up for 12-23 months (mean 17.6 months) after surgery, and 3 cases (6.6%) of adjacent vertebral fractures occurred in group A and 2 cases (5.4%) occurred in group B (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
Precise puncture can improve the accuracy of puncture needle through pedicle to vertebral body. It conducive to obtain a better diffusion of bone cement across the midline with lower bone cement leakage rate. Simplified PVP can reduce the surgery procedures, shorten the operatige time, reduces the X-ray frequency, but also saves material cost.