Efficiency of Direct Reduction of Kyphoplasty in Osteoporotic Vertebra Fractures and Pain Management

Objective: Evaluation of impacts of deformity corrections achieved by kyphoplasty approach in osteoporotic vertebra fractures on recurrence of pain.

Materials and methods: 25 segments of a total of 20 patients to whom kyphoplasty had been successfully carried out in Gaziantep State and Gaziantep American Hospitals due to painful osteoporotic vertebra compression fractures between 2001-2004 years were recruited into the study. Percent of deformity corrections at the sagittal plane had been assigned and evaluated with pre- and postoperative radiograms. The corrected group of the cases was comprised of 12 segments with a correction rate ≥80% (10 patients), whilst considering the remaining 13 segments with a correction rate of ≤79% (10 patients) as the non-corrected group. All the patients were undertaken a VAS score preoperatively, 3rd hour, 3rd and 6th months, postoperatively as well as Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) preoperatively, and at 6th month postoperatively.

Results: Radiological findings were determined to be compatible with clinical evidence. The degree of pain was seriously reduced within the first 24 hours in all cases. A statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in VAS score as well as decrements in Oswestry Disability Index (p=0.02; t=2.234) in the corrected group, supported the hypothesis that recurrent pain is related with the subsequent adjacent vertebral micro fractures and the pain relief could be achieved following a successfull correction.

Conclusion: Sagittal corrections achieved by adequacy of the reduction following a balloon kyphoplasty decrease the recurrence of pain.