The Influence of Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation Techniques on Recompression in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures. Percutaneous Vertebroplasty versus Balloon Kyphoplasty

-OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BK) have any mid-term to long-term effects on the structural integrity of augmented vertebrae.-METHODS: According to our hospital records, 351 patients underwent BK and PVP as a result of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures between 2010 and 2020. The demographic, surgical, and radiologic characteristics of the patients were analyzed retrospectively using the electronic hospital records and PACS (picture archiving and communication system). In our study, 55 patients who had a single level of PVP or BK filled with at least 6 mL og polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for T11-L5 levels and 3 mL of PMMA for T6-T10 levels via a bipedicular approach and who had only 1 vertebral fracture in a 10-year follow-up period were included in our study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: BK (n = 40) and PVP (n = 15). All measurements were performed on standing lateral radiographs from the postoperative first day and the last radiographs that were obtained during the follow-up. The anterior and posterior heights of the fractured vertebral body and local kyphosis angles were measured.-RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 2.53 & PLUSMN; 1.78 years in the BK group and 3.07 & PLUSMN; 2.02 years in the PVP group. The decrease in the vertebral height and increasing kyphosis that develop from the early to late postoperative periods were found to be statistically significant in the BK group (P < 0.05). In the PVP group, vertebral height and kyphosis angle measurements did not differ significantly between the early and late postoperative periods. In addition, in terms of the percentage change, anterior parts of the vertebral bodies are more affected. However, the absolute difference for the measurement of the vertebral heights did not confirm this finding.-CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, our study is unique because it has the longest follow-up in the literature comparing BK and PVP in terms of recollapse of the augmented vertebrae. Our study shows that BK does not prevent height loss of the augmented vertebral bodies in the mid-to long term.