Objective: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) with conservative therapy for patients with acute vertebral compression fractures.
Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, comparison study.
Background: The efficacy of PV has not been well established because there have been few comparative studies with conservatively treated control groups.
Patients and methods: Fifty-five consecutive patients (8 men and 47 women, age 47-94) with osteoporosis and symptomatic acute vertebral compression fractures were enrolled. thirty-two patients received pv, whereas 23 received conservative therapy.
Outcome measures: Changes in pain intensity, physical functioning, and pain medication requirement were evaluated.
Results: Both PV and conservative therapy provided pain reduction (P < 0.001), improvements in physical functioning (P < 0.001), and decreased medication (P < 0.001). Reductions in visual analogue pain scores were more significant in the vertebroplasty group at 1 (P < 0.001) and 4 weeks (P < 0.001) but not at 12 months. Improvements in physical functioning were significant at 1 (P < 0.001) and 4 weeks (P < 0.001). Medication requirements were lower in the vertebroplasty group at all three time points.
Conclusions: Pain relief, physical functioning improvement, and medication requirement after vertebroplasty are immediately and significantly better when compared with conservative therapy.
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