The efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty on osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and its effects on the quality of life in the elderly

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) on osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) and its effects on the quality of life (QOL) in the elderly. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 126 elderly OVCF patients. They underwent surgery and were divided into an observation group (treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty, n=63) and a control group (treated with PKP, n=63). The two groups were given routine anti osteoporosis treatment after admission. The Cobb angles of the injured vertebrae and the anterior height of the vertebral bodies before and after the operations were compared between the two groups. The Oswestry Disability Index and the Visual Analogue Scale scores before the operations, at three months after the operations, and at six months after the operations were compared between the two groups. The QOL scores before the operations and at six months after the operations were compared between the two groups. The postoperative complications were also compared between the two groups. Results: Compared with before the operations, the Oswestry Disability Index and Visual Analogue Scale scores in the two groups were significantly decreased at three and six months after the operations (all P<0.001), and the scores in the observation group were significantly lower than the scores in the control group (all P<0.05). Compared with before the operations, the Cobb angles of the injured vertebrae in the two groups were significantly reduced immediately after the operations, and the Cobb angles in the observation group were significantly smaller than they were in the control group (all P<0.001). There was an opposite trend in the anterior height of the vertebral body (all P<0.001). Six months after the operations, the two groups' QOL scores were significantly higher than they were before the operations, and the observation group's scores were significantly higher than the control group's (all P<0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was significantly lower than it was in the control group (3.17% vs. 15.87%, P<0.05). There were no severe complications such as lower-limb venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in the two groups. Conclusion: Compared with percutaneous vertebroplasty, PKP can significantly relieve pain, restore vertebral height, improve vertebral dysfunction and postoperative QOL in elderly OVCF patients, and it is very safe and worthy of clinical promotion.