Long-term observations of vertebral osteoporotic fractures treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty

Abstract Objective To assess the immediate and long-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for the treatment of refractory pain resulting from osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Methods A retrospective, open study of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) was conducted with long-term follow-up. PV with PMMA was carried out between 1990 and 1996 in 40 patients with symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral fracture(s) that had not responded to maximum medical therapy. In 1997, each patient was asked to come back to our institution for a physical and spinal X-ray examination. Efficacy was assessed by changes over time in pain on Huskisson's visual analogue scale (VAS). Results Thirty-four vertebrae treated by PV in 25 patients were evaluated with long-term follow-up. The mean duration of follow-up was 48 months (range 12–84 months). Pain assessed by the VAS significantly ( P Conclusion PV appears to be a safe and useful procedure for the treatment of focal back pain secondary to osteoporotic vertebral fracture when conservative treatment has failed.