This study aims to assess the clinical efficacy of percutaneous curved vertebroplasty (PCVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) at 2 specified stages: early (symptom-to-surgery time ≤2 weeks) and delayed (symptom-to-surgery time >2 weeks). A retrospective analysis was conducted on 111 patients with OVCF who underwent PCVP at the 983rd Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force from June 2018 to June 2023. The patients were categorized into the early group (n = 60, symptom-to-surgery time ≤2 weeks) and delayed group (n = 51, symptom-to-surgery time >2 weeks) based on the interval from pain onset to surgical intervention. Demographic data were collected for both groups. The visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index were used to evaluate surgical efficacy. Perioperative complications were recorded. The kyphotic angle and vertebral height of the affected vertebra were measured preoperatively and postoperatively to assess the vertebral height recovery and kyphotic angle correction. A total of 217 patients were screened, of whom 106 were excluded (39 cases under the age of 60, 57 cases were unable to undergo surgical treatment due to systemic diseases, 10 cases with incomplete follow-up data), resulting in 111 eligible patients. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups: early group (n = 60; age 73.03 ± 7.76 years; 12 males and 48 females) versus delayed group (n = 51; age 75.20 ± 6.63 years; 12 males and 39 females) (all P > .05). At the 12-month follow-up, the visual analog scale scores showed significant differences: early group (preoperative 8.12 ± 0.46 to postoperative 0.93 ± 0.52) versus delayed group (preoperative 6.55 ± 0.54 to postoperative 1.84 ± 0.37) (intergroup P 60 years and without contraindications, early PCVP performed within 2 weeks of symptom onset is associated with greater pain relief, enhanced functional improvement, restoration of vertebral height, and reduced complication rates compared to delayed surgery. Owing to the retrospective and observational nature of this study, causal inferences were constrained. Nevertheless, these findings support the consideration of early PCVP as a beneficial treatment strategy for eligible patients.
Wu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.