Unilateral Transforaminal Approach (UTFA) in Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Novel Puncture Technique

Abstract Background: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) via various puncture approaches was an effective minimally invasive treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). In recent years, unilateral puncture techniques had been increasingly used with advantages of shorter operation time, lower X-ray exposure. The aim of this study was to explore the safety and efficacy of the unilateral transforaminal approach (UTFA) in PVP for the treatment of OVCFs. Methods: A retrospective study was designed to review 155 cases of single-level OVCFs from July 2018 to December 2019. We treated 77 patients with PVP via the UTFA and 78 via the bilateral transpedicular approach (BTPA). Operation time, number of intraoperative fluoroscopic X-rays, volume of bone cement injection and distribution of bone cement were recorded. We used Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) presurgery and at 1 day, 3 months and last follow-up after surgery to assess clinical outcomes. Results: The operation was successfully completed in both groups, with no complications of neurovascular injuries or bone cement embolism. UTFA group had significantly shorter operation time and less-frequent fluoroscopy than BTPA group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in volume or distribution of injected bone cement (P > 0.05). Postoperative VAS scores and ODI of the two groups were significantly improved over their presurgical values (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in VAS or ODI at each time point between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Both unilateral transforaminal PVP and bilateral transpedicular PVP were safe and effective treatments for OVCFs, but the former approach had the advantages of shorter operation time and less X-ray radiation exposure and therefore is worthy of greater clinical application.