Comparative Efficacy and Safety of High-viscosity versus Low-viscosity Bone Cement in the Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures

This study was to compare the clinical effects of high-viscosity with low-viscosity bone cement in percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fracture. A total of 112 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture received percutaneous vertebroplasty treatment from March 2015 to March 2017 in the Zhongda Hospital Southeast University were enrolled and divided into the high-viscosity group (n=56) and low-viscosity group (n=56) according to the cement used. Visual analogue scale, Oswestry disability index, Cobb angle and leakage were observed before operation, 2 days after operation and 4 months after operation. There was no significant difference in visual analogue scale score, Oswestry disability index score or Cobb angle between the 2 groups before operation. However, the visual analogue scale score, Oswestry disability index score and Cobb angle of the high-viscosity group were lower than those of the low-viscosity group 2 d after operation and 4 months after operation. Besides, the proportion of leakage into the venous area, intervertebral area, paravertebral area and the total leakage rates in the high-viscosity group were lower than those in the low-viscosity group. In conclusion, compared to the low-viscosity bone cement, the high-viscosity bone cement could significantly relieve the postoperative pain, restore the height of vertebrae and reduce the venous, intervertebral and paravertebral leakage rate. Therefore, high-viscosity bone cement can be used as the first choice for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fracture.