The Effect of Bone Cement Distribution on the Outcome of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty: A Case Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: To analyze the effect of different types of bone cement distribution after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods: 137 patients withsinglelevelOVCF who underwent PVP were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to bone cementdistribution. Group A:bone cement contacted both upper and lower endplates; Group B: bone cement missed at least one endplate. Group Bwas divided into 3 subgroups. Group B1: bone cement only contacted the upper endplates; Group B2: bone cement only contacted the lower endplates; Group B3: bone cement only located in the middle of vertebral body. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scoreat 24 hours post operation and last follow-up, anterior vertebral height restoration ratio (AVHRR), anterior vertebral height loss ratio (AVHLR) and vertebral body recompression ratewere compared. Results: 24 hours post operation, the pain of all groups were significantly improved. At the last follow-up, the VAS score of group A was lower than that of group B. There were 9 cases (6.6%) of cement leakage, 4 cases (6.9%) in group A and 5 cases (6.3%) in group B. At the last follow-up, there were 16 cases (11.7%) of vertebral body recompression, including 3 cases (5.2%) in group A and 13 cases (16.5%) in group B. There was no significant difference in AVHRR between two groups. At the last follow-up, AVHLR in group B was higher than that in group A. In subgroup analysis, there was no significant difference in VAS score,vertebral recompression rate, AVHRR or AVHLR.Conclusions: If the bone cement fully contacted both the upper and lower endplates, it can better restore the strength of the vertebral bodyand maintain the height of the vertebral body, reduce the risk of the vertebral body recompression and long term pain.