Analysis of percutaneous vertebroplasty—a prospective study

Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to document the efficacy of vertebroplasty procedure for pain relief and also to measure pain-related disability and quality of life after the procedure, as well as to access whether the amount of cement injected affects the outcome.

Results

Fifty patients with severe pain not responding to conservative management of vertebral collapse were included in this study. Clinical severity of pain was documented in a 10-point ordinal scale. Mean preoperative pain score was 7.3 ± 1.2, and activity score was 1.6 ± 1.1. The analgesic score was 1.0 ± 0.2. Eight and 14 patients had clinical improvement in symptoms immediate and at 1 week, respectively, after the procedure. At 3-month follow-up, 16 patients (32%) became asymptomatic, 30 patients (60%) showed significant improvement, while 4 of them (8%) had no improvement in symptoms. This suggests that there is a significant relief in clinical symptoms at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusion

Vertebroplasty is a safe, cost-effective, sustainable minimal invasive procedure for the treatment of pain associated with vertebral fractures/collapse associated with different vertebral pathologies with high success rate. Accurate and correct selection of patients is mandatory for the success of the procedure.