The Existence of Intravertebral Cleft Impact on Outcomes of Nonacute Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures Patients Treated by Percutaneous Kyphoplasty

Study Design:A retrospective comparative study.Objective:The purpose of this study is to assess radiologic features of intravertebral cleft (IVC) in nonacute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) patients, and analyze the existence of IVC impact on outcomes of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).Summary of Background Data:The IVC sign is regarded as vertebral instability and the cause of persisting pain. It is more likely to happen at nonacute OVCFs patients. Patients with IVC sign have different outcomes from these without IVC treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty. There were rare reports about the outcomes of patients with IVC sign treated by PKP.Materials and Methods:We divided 92 nonacute OVCFs patients (total of 113 vertebrae) into 2 groups according to the existence of IVC. Preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scales, Oswestry Disability Index, kyphotic angulation (KA), and anterior vertebral height were recorded; the incidence and radiologic features of IVC were analyzed.Results:The diagnostic sensitivity of IVC on plain radiograph, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were 35.4%, 89.3%, and 83.3%, respectively. The IVC group had an average correction KA of 9.14 degrees and reduction of ratio of compression of 20.09%, and the non-IVC group was 8.76 degrees and 20.23%, respectively. Cleft pattern of cement accounted for 64.6% in IVC group and 27.7% in non-IVC group. Five/7 of cement leakage in IVC group was intradiscal leakage, whereas 7/9 of cement leakage in non-IVC group was perivertebral leakage.Conclusions:Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were more sensitivity to diagnose IVC sign than X-ray. PKP could improve pain, functional activity, KA, and anterior height of both IVC and non-IVC groups, however, there was more cleft pattern of cement and higher intradiscal cement leakage in the IVC group.