Background:Kümmell's disease is a chronic, non-healing osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), which is associated with ischemic necrosis and vertebral pseudarthrosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the therapeutic effect and distribution characteristics of bone cement in the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) treatment between thoracolumbar Kümmell's diseases and OVCFs.Methods: A total of 70 patients with Kümmell ’s disease (K group) or OVCFs (O group) who underwent PVP surgery from February 2016 to February 2018 were included in this study. The follow-up time was 24-48 months. The course of disease was significantly longer in the K group than in the O group (P=0.000). Most cases in the K group had no history of trauma, while most cases in the O group had a history of falls (P=0.001). The vertebral compression rate and degree of osteoporosis were more serious in the K group than in the O group (P<0.05, respectively). Distribution pattern, volume and leakage rate of bone cement, operation time, VAS score, ODI, correction rates of vertebral compression and kyphosis, re-fracture rate of adjacent vertebrae between the two groups were compared to assess clinical effect.Results: The amount of bone cement injected was significantly higher in the K group than in the O group (P=0.025). The cement distribution pattern of local solid lump was dominant in the K group (65.71%), while intercalation with trabeculae was dominant in the O group (74.29%) (P<0.001). VAS and ODI were significantly lower both in the two groups at the 1st day, 1st year and 2nd years after surgery than before surgery (all P<0.05), but significantly lower in the K group than in the O group at each time point after surgery (all P<0.05). The correction rates of kyphosis and vertebral compression in both groups were significantly improved (P<0.05, respectively) and gradually lost with time (P<0.05, respectively). The correction rates of kyphosis and vertebral compression were significantly higher in the K group than in the O group at each time point after surgery (all P<0.05).Conclusion: Kümmell's disease has a higher degree of disease progression and osteoporosis than OVCFs. PVP can better restore partial vertebral height and correct kyphosis in the treatment of Kümmell's disease, while can better alleviate pain and improve ODI in the treatment of OVCFs.