Preoperative planning of compact zone trajectory is necessary in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with endplate involvement: A prospective randomized controlled study

Abstract

Background: This prospective randomized controlled study compares the clinical and radiological outcomes between reduction methods with or without compact trabecular bone during percutaneous kyphoplasty in osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Methods: The cohort of 100 patients who underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty was randomly divided into group A (guide pin and balloon introduced directly into fracture site) and group B (guide pin and balloon inserted away fracture site). The surgery duration, clinical and radiological outcomes postoperatively and at follow-up, and complications of cement leakage and adjacent fracture were recorded. Patients were followed up for an average of 20.18 months. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale. Results: The two groups had similar patient demographics, surgery times, and volume of cement injected. The method using elevation of the collapsed endplate indirectly had no significant influence on radiological outcomes but significantly decreased the occurrence of intradiscal cement leakage and improved 1- and 12-month postoperative functional outcomes. Conclusion: Elevating and reinforcing the collapsed endplate rather than just filling the defect during percutaneous kyphoplasty is safe and effective. This technique decreased pain and improved function with lower rates of further collapse of the osteoporotic vertebrae compared to defect-filling alone.