• Jinku Guo, Wenyuan Ding, Yong Shen, Baojun Li, Hailong Wu, Laizhen Cao, and Pengfei Li.
• Department of Spine Surgery, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang Hebei 050051, PR China.
• Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2010 Nov 1;24(11):1341-4.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and the value of balloon kyphoplasty in treating aged osteoporosis thoracolumbar vertebrae burst fracture.MethodsBetween January 2003 and January 2008, 36 thoracolumbar vertebrae burst fracture patients were treated. There were 15 males and 21 females with an average age of 65.4 years (range, 59-72 years). Fourteen cases had no obvious history of trauma, 19 had a history of slight trauma, and 3 had a history of severe trauma. Forty vertebral bodies were involved, including 1 T7, 3 T9, 8 T10, 10 T12, 9 L1, 7 L2, and 2 L4. All patients displayed local pain and osteoporosis by bone density measurement with no neurological symptom of both lower limbs. Balloon kyphoplasty through unilateral (31 cases) or bilateral (5 cases) vertebral pedicles with polymethylmethacrylate was performed at the injection volume of (3.46 +/- 0.86) mL per vertebral body. Before and after operation, the anterior height and posterior height of fractured vertebral body and the sagittal displacement were measured.ResultsTwo cases had intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage; 1 case had no remission of waist-back pain and pain was released after symptomatic treatment. All 36 patients were followed up 2.3 years on average (range, 1.5-4.0 years). No cement leakage was found with good diffusion of cement on X-ray film. The restoration of the height of vertebral bodies was satisfactory without nerve compression symptoms and other complications. The Visual Analogue Score at last follow-up (2.34 +/- 1.03) was significantly lower than that of preoperation (6.78 +/- 1.21), (P < 0.05). The compressive percentage of anterior height (19.80% +/- 1.03%) of fractured vertebral body after operation was significantly lower than that before operation (25.30% +/- 2.50%), (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in posterior compressive percentage and sagittal displacement between pre- and post- operation (P > 0.05).ConclusionBased on roentgenographic scores, balloon kyphoplasty is selectively used to treat aged osteoporosis thoracolumbar vertebrae burst fracture, and the radiographic and clinical results were satisfactory.

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