Height restoration and wedge angle correction effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty: association with intraosseous clefts

To evaluate effects of vertebroplasty on restoration of vertebral body height and wedge angle and relief from pain in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures.A retrospective study of 156 patients (232 levels) who had undergone vertebroplasty was conducted. Treated vertebrae with cleft included 49 patients (49 levels) and that without cleft 107 patients (183 levels). Effects on restoration of vertebral body height and wedge angle, and pain scores between pre- and post-procedure were statistically analyzed by using a paired-sample t test, and Kruskal Wallis test.The height and wedge angle of the fractured vertebral body, and pain score, improved significantly after vertebroplasty. On a vertebra-by-vertebra analysis, the vertebral body height and wedge angle in the cleft group, were statistically significantly better post-procedure (P 0.01); in the non-cleft group, there was nosignificant improved (P 0.05). Pain relief was not statistically significant different between the two groups (P 0.05).Most patients experienced pain relief after vertebroplasty. After vertebroplasty, the height and wedge angle were significantly improved in the cleft group (p 0.01), with no significant improvement in the non-cleft group (p 0.05). Key Points • Vertebra with cleft is attributed to improvement of the spinal deformity • Vertebra without cleft was not associated with improvement of the spinal deformity • Vertebroplasty is an effective treatment strategy for osteoporotic compression fractures.