OBJECTIVE
To elucidate postoperative clinical and radiologic efficacy of unilateral kyphoplasty compared for percutaneous bilateral vertebroplasty.
METHODS
One hundred patients with osteoporotic compression fracture at thoracolumbar junction were enrolled in this study. The kyphotic angle and reduction rate were measured to evaluate the vertebral restoration. Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and short form-36 (SF-36) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional outcome were recorded by 1 year postoperatively. Cement extravasation and adjacent vertebral fractures were monitored.
RESULTS
Visual analog scale for pain was not statistically different through the follow up in both groups (p=0.38). The preoperative SF-36 and ODI scores were similar (p>0.05) but the difference in ODI score and standardized physical component scale reached statistical significance (p=0.04, p=0.03) and unilateral kyphoplasty group was getting better functional status. Reduction rate of vertebral body was 42.5+/-7.8% for the vertebroplasty group and 66.3+/-8.1% for the unilateral kyphoplasty group (p<0.001) and loss of reduction was 4.5+/-3.5% and 1.7+/-2.5% (p<0.0001) respectively. There were six complications of cement extraosseous leakage into the spinal canal in vertebroplasty only.
CONCLUSION
Unilateral kyphoplasty in compare with vertebroplasty is safer for cement leakage and immediately reduces back pain and restore kyphotic deformities in addition to the prevention of subsequent compression fracture.
