Clinical effect evaluation of percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with the spinal external fixator for the treatment of osteoporotic compressive fractures with posterior vertebral defect

The purpose of this study is to report a new technique and assess clinical outcome of compressive fractures with posterior vertebral defect treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with the spinal external fixator. 80 patients (32 males and 48 females), ranging from 62 to 88 years old with the mean age of 71.5 years, underwent surgery for the compressive fractures with posterior vertebral defect by percutaneous vertebroplasty combined with the spinal external fixator. All patients were diagnosed to have fresh compressive fractures with osteoporosis and posterior vertebral defect shown on roentgenograms, computed tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging preoperatively. They underwent spinal external fixation firstly to be fixed and restored, then to be carried out percutaneous vertebroplasty. The mean follow-up was 24 months (16-42 months). Spinal canal encroachment, spinal cobb angle and vertebral body height loss were measured to assess clinical outcome before and after surgery, at the final follow-up. The Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Index were used for pain and functional assessment. In all cases, preoperative and postoperative radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were obtained. The average time of surgery was 88 min (75-115 min). The mean blood loss was 10 ml (6-12 ml) during surgery. The anterior height loss of vertebral body decreased significantly from 79.3 +/- A 11 % before surgery to 8.0 +/- A 5.2 % after surgery, and 7.6 +/- A 6.0 % at the final follow-up. The spinal canal encroachment significantly reduced from 19.9 +/- A 2.6 % preoperatively to 4.0 +/- A 0.7 % postoperatively, 4.1 +/- A 0.7 % at the final follow-up. The Cobb angle was corrected from 25.8 +/- A 7.9A degrees primarily to 8.2 +/- A 4.1A degrees postoperatively, 7.8 +/- A 3.1A degrees at the final follow-up. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) among them before and after the surgery. Postoperative VAS and Oswestry scores were both significantly different from the preoperative and follow-up (p < 0.05). The preliminary results are encouraging, showing that the spinal external fixator combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty was a safe and effective method to treat the osteoporotic compressive fractures with posterior vertebral defect.