Objectives: We evaluated early results of osteoporotic spinal fractures treated with balloon kyphoplasty.
Methods: The study included 16 patients (11 females, 5 males; mean age 66 years, range 55 to 75 years) who were treated with balloon kyphoplasty for osteoporotic spinal fractures. One patient had vertebral fractures at two levels. The mean duration from trauma to kyphoplasty was two months (range 0 to 4 months). The mean amount of cement used during the procedures was 4 ml (range 3 to 6 ml). Kyphoplasty was performed with a bipedicular approach in all the patients. Functional results were assessed with the Oswestry Disability Scale (ODS) and a visual analog scale (VAS). The mean follow-up period was 18 months (range 13 to 27 months).
Results: Compared to the preprocedure measurements, the mean local kyphosis angle decreased from 16° to 11.8°, and anterior compression angle decreased from 16.7° to 9.6°, the improvements being 26.3% and 42.5%, respectively. The mean vertebral body and anterior wall heights increased by 44.4% and 37.9%, respectively. At final evaluations, the ODS score decreased by 52.2% (from 13.8 to 6.6) and the VAS score decreased by 59.5% (from 4.2 to 1.7). No complications were encountered other than cement extrusion at two aspects of the vertebral body (2 anterior, 2 posterior leaks).
Conclusion: Being a minor surgical procedure, balloon kyphoplasty is an appropriate treatment in osteoporotic vertebral fractures with high patient satisfaction and low complication rate.