Abstract

Purpose: A complete collapse of osteoporotic vertebral fractures is difficult to treat. Restoration of vertebral height is very difficult, if ever possible. Kyphoplasty has been shown to restore vertebral compression fractures; however the best results are achieved in fractures without total collapse. Nevertheless some fractures develop osteonecrosis and pseudarthosis which can be easily seen on X-ray. For those cases we performed a retrospective study in order to evaluate the capacity of kyphoplasty in those difficult situations. Methods: We analyzed the pre- and postoperative X-rays of vertebra plana treated between 2002 and 2005. Vertebral height (vh -anterior, middle and posterior) and kyphotic angle were measured with a digital imaging system. 2 independent examiners classified the preoperative X-rays into fractures with osteonecrosis/pseud-arthrosis (group 1) and without osteonecrosis (group 2). Statistical analysis with the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was performed. Results: Between 2002 and 2005 we performed 315 kyphoplasties. A total collapse of the vertebra (vertebra plana) was treated in 15 cases. Mean age 76 years, SD 5.2 years, average time of treatment after fracture 4 months. Osteonecrosis was persistent in 8 cases. The osteonecrosis group found a statistically significant higher degree of vertebral reconstruction (p < 0.013 - group 1: anterior vh 33%, middle vh 37,8%, posterior vh 19,1%; group 2: anterior vh 4,9%, middle vh 17,5%, posterior vh 1,8%). No significant difference was found in the analysis of the pre- and postop. kyphotic angle which could be due to the small sample size as the mean values are three-fold elevated in group 1 (p = 0.146, group 1: restoration mean 9,1° - maximum 18°; group 2: restoration mean 3,5° - maximum 13°). Conclusions: Osteonecrosis is a positive predictive sign for the potential of vertebral reconstruction. Vertebral height can be significantly improved in those patients and the major changes of the kyphotic angle are possible. Even after 4 months, correction of the deformity is possible with kyphoplasty. However, without this sign, restoration of the vertebral height and correction of kyphosis is limited to rare cases