Objective To investigate the effects of different puncture levels on bone cement distribution and effectiveness in bilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. Methods A clinical data of 274 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures who met the selection criteria between December 2017 and December 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent bilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty. During operation, the final position of the puncture needle tip reached was observed by C-arm X-ray machine. And 118 cases of bilateral puncture needle tips were at the same level (group A); 156 cases of bilateral puncture needle tips were at different levels (group B), of which 87 cases were at the upper 1/3 layer and the lower 1/3 layer respectively (group B1), and 69 cases were at the adjacent levels (group B2). There was no significant difference in gender, age, fracture segment, degree of osteoporosis, disease duration, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) between groups A and B and among groups A, B1, and B2 (P>0.05). The operation time, bone cement injection volume, postoperative VAS score, ODI, and bone cement distribution were compared among the groups. Results All operations were successfully completed without pulmonary embolism, needle tract infection, or nerve compression caused by bone cement leakage. There was no significant difference in operation time and bone cement injection volume between groups A and B or among groups A, B1, and B2 (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 3-32 months, with an average of 7.8 months. There was no significant difference in follow-up time between groups A and B and among groups A, B1, and B2 (P>0.05). At 3 days after operation and last follow-up, VAS score and ODI were significantly lower in group B than in group A (P<0.05), in groups B1 and B2 than in group A (P<0.05), and in group B1 than in group B2 (P<0.05). Imaging review showed that the distribution of bone cement in the coronal midline of injured vertebrae was significantly better in group B than in group A (P<0.05), in groups B1 and B2 than in group A (P<0.05), and in group B1 than in group B2 (P<0.05). In group A, 7 cases had postoperative vertebral collapse and 8 cases had other vertebral fractures. In group B, only 1 case had postoperative vertebral collapse during follow-up. ConclusionBilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures can obtain good bone cement distribution and effectiveness when the puncture needle tips locate at different levels during operation. When the puncture needle tips locate at the upper 1/3 layer and the lower 1/3 layer of the vertebral body, respectively, the puncture sites are closer to the upper and lower endplates, and the injected bone cement is easier to connect with the upper and lower endplates.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) through mild side and severe side approaches in the treatment of elderly osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods The clinical data of 100 patients with OVCF with symptoms on one side who were admitted between June 2020 and June 2021 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the severe side approach group (group A) and the mild side approach group (group B) according to the cement puncture access during PVP, with 50 cases in each group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of general information such as gender composition, age, body mass index, bone density, damaged segments, disease duration, and chronic comorbidities (P>0.05). The lateral margin height of the vertebral body on the operated side in group B was significantly higher than that of group A (P<0.001). The pain level and spinal motor function were evaluated using the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) before operation, at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months after operation in both groups, respectively. Results No intraoperative or postoperative complications such as bone cement allergy, fever, incision infection, and transient hypotension occurred in both groups. Four cases of bone cement leakage occurred in group A (3 cases of intervertebral leakage and 1 case of paravertebral leakage), and 6 cases of bone cement leakage occurred in group B (4 cases of intervertebral leakage, 1 case of paravertebral leakage, and 1 case of spinal canal leakage), and none of them had neurological symptoms. Patients in both groups were followed up 12-16 months, with a mean of 13.3 months. All fractures healed and the healing time ranged from 2 to 4 months, with a mean of 2.9 months. The patients had no complication related to infection, adjacent vertebral fracture, or vascular embolism during follow-up. At 3 months postoperatively, the lateral margin height of the vertebral body on the operated side in groups A and B were improved when compared with preoperative ones, and the difference between pre- and post-operative lateral margin height of the vertebral body in group A was higher than that in group B, all showing significant differences (P<0.001). The VAS scores and ODI in both groups improved significantly at all postoperative time points when compared with those before operation, and further improved with time after operation (P<0.05). The differences in VAS scores and ODI between the two groups before operation were not significant (P>0.05); VAS scores and ODI in group A were significantly better than those in group B at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after operation (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the two groups at 12 months after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion Patients with OVCF have more severe compression on the more symptomatic side of the vertebral body, and patients with PVP have better pain relief and better functional recovery when cement is injected through the severe symptomatic side.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of robot assisted and C-arm assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of single/double-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).MethodsThe clinical data of 108 cases of single/double-segment OVCF who met the selection criteria between May 2018 and October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 65 cases of single-segment fractures, of which 38 cases underwent “TiRobot” orthopedic robot-assisted PKP (robot group), 27 cases underwent C-arm X-ray machine fluoroscopy-assisted PKP (C-arm group). There were 43 cases of double-segment fractures, including 21 cases in robot group and 22 cases in C-arm group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, T value of bone mineral density, fracture segment distribution, time from injury to operation, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, vertebral kyphosis angle (VKA), and height of fractured vertebra (HFV) in the patients with single/double-segments fractures between robot group and C-arm group (P>0.05). The operation time, the fluoroscopy frequency of the surgeons and the patient, the fluoroscopy exposure time of the surgeons and the patient, the radiation dose of the C-arm; the VAS scores, VKA, HFV before operation, at 1 day and 6 months after operation; and the complications in the two groups were recorded and compared.ResultsAll patients underwent surgery successfully. The operation time of the single-segment robot group was significantly longer than that of the C-arm group (t=5.514, P=0.000), while the operation time of the double-segment robot group was not significantly different from that of the C-arm group (t=1.892, P=0.205). The single/double-segment robot group required three-dimensional scanning, so the fluoroscopy frequency, fluoroscopy exposure time, and radiation dose of C-arm received by the patient were significantly higher than those of the C-arm group (P<0.05); the fluoroscopy frequency and the fluoroscopy exposure time received by the surgeons were significantly less than those of the C-arm group (P<0.05). There was no infection, embolism, neurological injury, and adjacent segmental fractures. The single/double-segment robot group showed lower rate of cement leakage when compared with the C-arm group (P<0.05), all the cases of cement leakage happened outside the spinal canal. The VAS score, VKA, and HFV of the single/double-segment robot group and the C-arm group were significantly improved at 1 day and 6 months after operation (P<0.05), and the VAS score at 6 months after operation was further improved compared with that at 1 day after operation (P<0.05). At 1 day and 6 months after operation, there was no significant difference in VAS score between the single/double-segment robot group and the C-arm group (P>0.05). The VKA and HFV of robot group were significantly better than those of the C-arm group (P<0.05).ConclusionFor single/double-segment OVCF, robot assisted PKP has more advantages in correcting VKA and HFV, reducing fluoroscopy exposure of surgeons and bone cement leakage rate; C-arm assisted PKP has more advantages in reducing the operation time of single-segment OVCF and fluoroscopy exposure of patients during operation.
Objective To analyse the correlative factors of secondary vertebral fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) at different levels (adjacent and/or nonadjacent levels). Methods Between December 2002 and May 2008, 84 patients with OVCF were treated with PKP, and the cl inical data were analysed retrospectively. There were 11 males and 73 females with an average age of 70.1 years (range, 55-90 years). All patients were followed up 24-96 months (mean, 38 months). Secondary vertebral fracture occurred in 12 cases at 3-52 months after PKP (secondary fracture group), no secondary fracture in 72 cases (control group) at over 24months. The preoperative bone mineral density, postoperative vertebral height compression rate, postoperative Cobb angle, amount of injected bone cement per vertebra, puncture pathway (uni- or bilateral puncture), age, gender, number of fracture segment, and cement intradiscal leakage were compared between 2 groups to find correlative factors of secondary vertebral fractures. Results There was no significant difference in preoperative bone mineral density, postoperative vertebral height compression rate, postoperative Cobb angle, amount of injected bone cement per vertebra, puncture pathway, age, gender, and number of fracture segment between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). But the incidence of cement intradiscal leakage was much higher in secondary fracture group than in control group (χ2=5.294, P=0.032). Conclusion Cement intradiscal leakage may be the correlative factor of secondary vertebral fracture after PKP in OVCF.
Objective To investigate the effect of different treatment methods on the vertebral stability of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) by finite element analysis. MethodsTen patients with thoracolumbar OVCF admitted between January 2020 and June 2021 were selected, 5 of whom underwent operation (operation group), 5 underwent conservative treatment (conservative treatment group). Another 5 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. There was no significant difference in gender and age between groups (P>0.05). The operation group and the conservative treatment group received CT examination of the fractured vertebral body and adjacent segments before and after treatments, while the control group received CT examination of T12-L2. By importing CT data into Mimics 10.01 software, the finite element model was constructed. After comparing the finite element model of control group with the previous relevant literature measurement results to verify the validity, the spinal structural stress and range of motion (ROM) in each group under different conditions were measured. Results The three-dimensional finite element model was verified to be valid. There were significant differences in spinal structural stress after treatment between groups under different conditions (P<0.05). Before treatment, the ROMs of operation group and conservative treatment group under difference conditions were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.05), and there was no difference between conservative treatment group and operation group (P>0.05). After treatment, the ROMs of the control group and the operation group were significantly higher than those of the conservative treatment group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the operation group and the control group (P>0.05). Conclusion For patients with OVCF, the minimally invasive operation can achieve better results. Compared with conservative treatment, it can reduce the effect on spinal stability, and can be as a preferred treatment method, which is helpful to improve the prognosis of patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of orthopedic robot with modified tracer fixation (short for modified orthopedic robot) assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treatment of single-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods The clinical data of 155 patients with single-segment OVCF who were admitted between December 2017 and January 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. According to the operation methods, the patients were divided into robot group (87 cases, PKP assisted by modified orthopedic robot) and C-arm group (68 cases, PKP assisted by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, T value of bone mineral density, therapeutic segment, grade of vertebral compression fracture, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The effectiveness evaluation indexes of the two groups were collected and compared. The clinical evaluation indexes included the establishment time of working channel, dose of intraoperative fluoroscopy, the amount of injected cement, VAS score before and after operation, and the occurrence of complications. The imaging evaluation indexes included the degree of puncture deviation, the degree of bone cement diffusion, the leakage of bone cement, the midline vertebral height and the Cobb angle before and after operation. Results The establishment time of working channel in robot group was significantly shorter than that in C-arm group, and the dose of intraoperative fluoroscopy was significantly larger than that in C-arm group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the amount of injected cement between the two groups (t=1.149, P=0.252). The patients in two groups were followed up 10-14 months (mean, 12 months). Except that the intraoperative VAS score of the robot group was significantly better than that of the C-arm group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between the two groups at other time points (P>0.05). No severe complication such as infection, spinal cord or nerve injury, and pulmonary embolism occurred in the two groups. Five cases (5.7%) in robot group and 7 cases (10.2%) in C-arm group had adjacent segment fracture, and the difference in incidence of adjacent segment fracture between the two groups was not significant (χ2=1.105, P=0.293). Compared with C-arm group, the deviation of puncture and the diffusion of bone cement at 1 day after operation, the midline vertebral height and Cobb angle at 1 month after operation and last follow-up were significantly better in robot group (P<0.05). Eight cases (9.1%) in the robot group and 16 cases (23.5%) in the C-arm group had cement leakage, and the incidence of cement leakage in the robot group was significantly lower than that in the C-arm group (χ2=5.993, P=0.014). There was no intraspinal leakage in the two groups. ConclusionCompared with traditional PKP assisted by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy, modified orthopedic robot-assisted PKP in the treatment of single-segment OVCF can significantly reduce intraoperative pain, shorten the establishment time of working channel, and improve the satisfaction of patients with operation. It has great advantages in reducing the deviation of puncture and improving the diffusion of bone cement.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of TiRobot-assisted and C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) via pedicle of vertebra in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) of thoracic vertebrae. Methods The clinical data of 85 patients with OVCF of thoracic vertebrae who were admitted between January 2020 and March 2023 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed including 40 patients (50 vertebrae) undergoing PKP assisted by TiRobot (group A) and 45 patients (50 vertebrae) undergoing PKP assisted by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy (group B). There was no significant difference in the comparison of baseline data such as gender, age, body mass index, bone mineral density T-value, fracture segment, trauma history, and preoperative numerical rating scale (NRS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Cobb angle of injured vertebra between the two groups (P>0.05). The effectiveness evaluation indexes of the two groups, including the operation time, the volume of injected cement, the times of fluoroscopies, the length of hospital stay, and the occurrence of postoperative complications were collected and compared. Anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and CT of the injured vertebra were reviewed at 1 day after operation to observe whether there was cement leakage and to evaluate the distribution of cement in the injured vertebra. Before and after operation, pain was assessed using the NRS score, dysfunction was assessed using the ODI, and vertebral height recovery was assessed by measuring the Cobb angle of the injured vertebrae by X-ray films. Results Both groups of patients successfully completed the operation, the operation time, the volume of injected cement, the times of fluoroscopies, and the length of hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B (P<0.05). The patients in two groups were followed up 4-12 months (mean, 9.6 months). Bone cement leakage occurred in 5 vertebrae in group A and 15 vertebrae in group B after operation, all of which leaked to the intervertebral space and around the vertebral body, and the patients had no obvious clinical symptoms. The difference of bone cement leakage between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). No severe complication such as intraspinal leakage, infection, or vascular embolism was found in the two groups. At 1 day after operation, the distribution index of bone cement in group A was mostly grade Ⅴ, which was well dispersed; while in group B, it was mostly grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅴ; the difference of bone cement distribution index between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). The NRS score, ODI, and Cobb angle of injured vertebra in both groups were significantly improved at 1 day after operation when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the difference of the above indexes between the two groups before and after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion TiRobot-assisted unilateral PKP in the treatment of OVCF of thoracic vertebrae is safe and effective, which can reduce the X-ray transmission times during operation, shorten the operation time, reduce the volume of bone cement injection, and thus decrease incidence of bone cement leakage.
ObjectiveTo analyze the correlation between bone cement cortical leakage and injury degree of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP), and to provide guidance for reducing clinical complications. Methods A clinical data of 125 patients with OVCF who received PKP between November 2019 and December 2021 and met the selection criteria was selected and analyzed. There were 20 males and 105 females. The median age was 72 years (range, 55-96 years). There were 108 single-segment fractures, 16 two-segment fractures, and 1 three-segment fracture. The disease duration ranged from 1 to 20 days (mean, 7.2 days). The amount of bone cement injected during operation was 2.5-8.0 mL, with an average of 6.04 mL. Based on the preoperative CT images, the standard S/H ratio of the injured vertebra was measured (S: the standard maximum rectangular area of the cross-section of the injured vertebral body, H: the standard minimum height of the sagittal position of the injured vertebral body). Based on postoperative X-ray films and CT images, the occurrence of bone cement leakage after operation and the cortical rupture at the cortical leakage site before operation were recorded. The correlation between the standard S/H ratio of the injured vertebra and the number of cortical leakage was analyzed. Results Vascular leakage occurred in 67 patients at 123 sites of injured vertebrae, and cortical leakage in 97 patients at 299 sites. Preoperative CT image analysis showed that there were 287 sites (95.99%, 287/299) of cortical leakage had cortical rupture before operation. Thirteen patients were excluded because of vertebral compression of adjacent vertebrae. The standard S/H ratio of 112 injured vertebrae was 1.12-3.17 (mean, 1.67), of which 87 cases (268 sites) had cortical leakage. The Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the number of cortical leakage of injured vertebra and the standard S/H ratio of injured vertebra (r=0.493, P<0.001). ConclusionThe incidence of cortical leakage of bone cement after PKP in OVCF patients is high, and cortical rupture is the basis of cortical leakage. The more severe the vertebral injury, the greater the probability of cortical leakage.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of robot-assisted percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in the elderly. Methods The clinical data of 90 elderly patients with OVCF treated in Sichuan Science City Hospital between June 2019 and March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into robot-assisted group (40 cases) and C-arm-assisted group (50 cases). The pre- and post-operative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, pre- and post-operative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, intraoperative cement leakage, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, operation time, and the loss of hemoglobin were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The incidence of intraoperative cement leakage (5% vs. 20%), intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency [(18.3±3.2) vs. (41.3±7.8) times], operation time [(28.3±4.6) vs. (43.2±7.3) min] and the loss of hemoglobin [(7.2±2.0) vs. (15.2±4.4) g/L] of the robot-assisted group were less than those of the C-arm-assisted group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the decrease of VAS score or ODI score (3.63±1.64 vs. 3.40±1.65, P>0.05; 50.70±4.95 vs. 52.10±6.69, P>0.05). Conclusions Robot-assisted PVP for elderly patients with OVCF can significantly reduce the risk of cement leakage, shorten the operation time, reduce the intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and reduce the surgical hidden blood loss. It can be used for clinical promotion and application.
Objective To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of vertebroplasty with reverse designed unilateral targeted puncture in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) by comparing with curved unilateral puncture. Methods A total of 52 patients with OVCF met selection criteria and were admitted between January 2019 and June 2021 were selected as the research objects. According to the random number table method, they were divided into two groups (n=26). In trial group, the reverse designed unilateral targeted puncture was used in the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP); while the control group used the curved unilateral puncture. There was no significant difference in gender, age, bone mineral density (T value), cause of injury, time from injury to operation, the level of responsible vertebral body, pedicle diameter of the planned puncture vertebral body, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, anterior vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, bone cement injection volume and leakage, intraoperative radiation exposure times, and hospitalization costs in the two groups were recorded. VAS score was used to evaluate the relief degree of low back pain after operation. X-ray film was used to review the diffusion degree of bone cement in the responsible vertebral body, and Cobb angle and anterior vertebral height were measured. Results The operation was successfully completed in the two groups. Patients in the two groups were followed up 12-18 months, with an average of 13.6 months. The operation time, volume of injected bone cement, intraoperative radiation exposure times, and hospitalization costs in the trial group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). With the prolongation of time, the low back pain of the two groups gradually relieved, and the VAS score significantly decreased (P<0.05). And there was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups at each time point (P>0.05). There were 2 cases (7.6%) of bone cement leakage in the trial group and 3 cases (11.5%) in the control group, and no significant difference was found in the incidence of bone cement leakage and the diffusion degree of bone cement between the two groups (P>0.05). Imaging examination showed that compared with pre-operation, the anterior vertebral height of the two groups significantly increased and Cobb angle significantly decreased at 2 days and 1 year after operation (P<0.05); while compared with 2 days before operation, the anterior vertebral height of the two groups significantly decreased and Cobb angle significantly increased at 1 year after operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indexes between the two groups at different time points after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with curved unilateral puncture, the use of reverse designed unilateral targeted puncture during PVP in the treatment of OVCF can not only achieve similar effectiveness, but also has the advantages of less radiation exposure, shorter operation time, and less hospitalization costs.