An updated comparison of high- and low-viscosity cement vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study mainly aimed to evaluate complications of cement leakage for osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures by PVP using HVC, and access the clinical efficacy.

METHODS: Between May 2013 and June 2015, 66 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures, who underwent PVP (36 HVC and 30 LVC) in our hospital, were enrolled. Cement leakage, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), refracture of the cemented vertebrae, and adjacent vertebral fractures were evaluated. The follow-up time was 1 year.

RESULTS: The overall cement leakage rate was 30.55% in the HVC group, lower than 77.77% obtained in the LVC group (P = 0.00). The incidence rates of cement leakage into paravertebral area (P = 0.02) and vein (P = 0.04) in the HVC group were significantly lower than those of the LVC group; however, no differences were found for disc space (P = 0.72) and intraspinal space (P = 0.58). There were no differences in VAS, ODI, refracture of cemented vertebrae, and adjacent vertebral fracture between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: PVP using HVC not only can reduce cement leakage, especially in the paravertebral area and peripheral vein, but also has satisfactory clinical effect.