Percutaneous curved vertebroplasty in the treatment of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty (PCVP) in treating thoracic and lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). METHODS: Patients with thoracolumbar OVCFs were recruited and randomly divided into three treatment groups: PCVP, unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) or bilateral PVP. Bone cement dispersion in the fractured vertebrae was observed. Surgery duration, X-ray frequency, bone cement injection volume, bone cement leakage rate and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded. RESULTS: Among 78 patients included, surgery duration and X-ray frequency were significantly lower in the PCVP and unilateral PVP groups versus bilateral PVP group. Bone cement injection volume was significantly higher in the bilateral PVP group (6.3 ± 1.4 ml) versus unilateral PVP (3.5 ± 1.1 ml) and PCVP groups (4.6 ± 1.2 ml). VAS scores at 24 h and 3 months post-surgery were significantly decreased versus baseline in all groups. The bone cement leakage rate was lowest in the PCVP group (8.8% [3/34 patients]). CONCLUSION: PCVP is associated with reduced trauma, less complicated surgery with shorter duration, fewer X-rays, lower complication rate, and quicker postoperative recovery versus unilateral and bilateral PVP.