Utilization of the directional balloon technique to improve the effectiveness of percutaneous kyphoplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and reduction of bone cement leakage

Background: This article evaluates the effectiveness of a new directional balloon technique in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Methods: From September 2015 to April 2017, 100 patients with single-segment OVCFs treated using percutaneous kyphoplasty were available for complete data assessment. Among these, 51 cases were treated with the traditional nondirectional balloon technique (group 1) and 49 cases were treated with the directional balloon technique (group 2). Operative time, blood loss, and X-ray exposure time were compared between the 2 groups. The visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Roland Morris disability (RMD) scores, and wedge-shaped and kyphosis angles were measured at 3 days and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, after surgery. Results: There were no significant differences in blood loss or the amount of bone cement injected between the 2 groups; however, operative times, X-ray exposure times, and leakage rates of bone cement, especially type C in group 2, were significantly lower in group 2 than those in group 1. VAS, ODI, and RMD scores, and wedge-shaped and kyphosis angles at each time point after surgery were significantly higher than those before surgery. However, the improvement in VAS, ODI, and RMD scores in group 2 was only significantly better than those in group 1 at 3 days after surgery. Conclusion: The utilization of the directional balloon technique in the treatment of OVCFs using percutaneous kyphoplasty can not only reduce the operation time, the radiation, and the bone cement leakage, but also improve the early curative effect.