• Rahel Bornemann, Tom R Jansen, Koroush Kabir, Peter H Pennekamp, Brit Stüwe, Dieter C Wirtz, and Robert Pflugmacher.
• Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Germany.
• J Spinal Disord Tech. 2013 Nov 15.

Study Design:A retrospective study.Objectives:Evaluation of safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency-targeted vertebral, augmentation (RF-TVA) in comparison to balloon kyphoplasty (BK) for the treatment of, acute painful vertebral compression fractures (VCF) on the basis of matched pairs.Summary Of Background:Vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty are the common surgical interventions for the, treatment of VCF. Both are effective and safe, but pose some risks such as adjacent, fractures and cement leakage. In 2009 RF-TVA was introduced as an innovative, augmentation procedure for the treatment of VCF.Methods:A total of 192 patients (116 females; 51 - 90 y) with VCF (n=303) at one to three, levels were treated with RF-TVA or BK. Functionality (ODI), pain (VAS), vertebral, height (anterior, middle) and kyphotic angle were evaluated over a two year period, (postoperatively, 3-4 d, 3, 6, 12 and 24 mo). Additionally, operating time and, occurrence of cement leakage were recorded.Results:Pain and functionality were significantly improved after both treatments. In both groups, there was an increase in vertebral height and a decrease in kyphotic angle, which, remained relatively consistent during 24 months. The incidence of cement leakage was, 9.4% (n=9) in the RF-TVA group and 24.0% (n=25) in the BK group. The mean, operating time with radiofrequency kyphoplasty was 25.9±9.9 minutes and with balloon, kyphoplasty 48.0±18.4 minutes.Conclusion:RF-TVA is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of vertebral compression, fractures when compared to BK. Improvement in pain and functional scores following, RF-TVA are durable through 24 months post-procedure and remained better than, those following BK at long term follow up. Operating time for RF-TVA is shorter and the, risk of cement leakage is lower. Both procedures provided similar results in vertebral, height restoration and reduction in kyphotic angle.

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